While thousands of hectares of forest were reduced to ashes in the forest fires that broke out last week in İzmir, Çanakkale, Manisa, Bolu, Aydın, Karabük and Muğla, discussions regarding the disaster continue. Forestry and Ecology Expert Prof. Dr. Doğan Kantarcı, who made special statements to ‘Haberglobal.com.tr’ after the fires that spread to residential areas in İzmir, said the following: “The summer of 2024 is very hot. The resin in the needles of the red pine tree evaporates. The aromatic oils in the leaves of the bushes under the red pine forests and in the maquis areas also evaporate. These ignite very easily. Even a cigarette butt is enough.”
ARMY SUPPORT IS A MUST
Prof. Dr. Kantarcı, who also drew attention to the importance of air support in firefighting, said, “Firefighting planes do not throw water into the fire, but in front of it. In this way, the fire is tried to be prevented or slowed down. The water thrown from the plane onto the fire evaporates before reaching the fire. Helicopters and small planes are used to make pinpoint fire prevention. “It is clear that the number of aircraft and helicopters should be increased and army support is needed for the fires in the summer of 2024.” he spoke.
IT SHOULD REACH 200 DEGREES
While the discussions regarding the fire disaster in Turkey continue, Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Forestry Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Doğanay Tolunay, who provided information about the cause of the disaster, warned that Turkey was experiencing a “fire of information pollution”. Prof. Dr. Doğanay Tolunay emphasized that the temperature must reach 200 degrees for the forests to spontaneously ignite. He said: “If lightning has not struck a forest, a fire will definitely start due to human error, negligence or intentional behavior. For a fire to start in a forest, a spark caused by human error or negligence is definitely needed.”
89 PERCENT ARE HUMAN
“89 percent of fires in Turkey are caused by human error or negligence, while 11 percent are caused by lightning strikes. According to official statistics, only 5-6 of the 3 thousand fires that occur in a year are caused by terrorist attacks. If a forest is not struck by lightning, a fire will definitely start due to human error, negligence or intentional behavior. Moreover, sparks and fires caused by high voltage lines are also included in the 89 percent that we call human error. We have been warning for years; all segments of society and administrative staff, from our shepherds to the administrative staff, are at fault.”
INCREASE IN POWER TRANSMISSION LINES
“I am speaking with our colleagues in the field. They stated that since the fire spread to residential areas in many places, the teams mainly carried out extinguishing activities in residential areas, and therefore, sufficient and timely intervention in the forests could not be made. According to statistics, the rate of forest fires caused by sabotage is not even one percent. Another problem is the increase in energy transmission lines. This increase also causes an increase in fires. “Electricity transmission lines can touch each other and create sparks. We see lines being laid through forest slopes.”
NEVER-ENDING NEGLIGENCES
On the other hand, according to the research results of the Western Mediterranean Branch of the Turkish Foresters Association More than 90 percent of forest fires in Turkey are caused by negligence and errors caused by stubble burning, smoking, picnics, shepherd fires and burning garbage. While it is noted that 6 percent of the fires are caused by intentional acts or sabotage, 5 percent are caused by opening up residential areas or fields, it is emphasized that the ratio of Energy Transmission Rope (ETL) to all fires is 3.9 percent.
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