The fires that are increasing in the summer months are destroying forest lands and causing the death of many species. On the other hand, a citizen named Mine Elmas, who lost her life in a forest fire that broke out in Izmir recently, recorded her last moments; the unfortunate woman’s last words were, “The place where our houses are is burning. We are trying to escape towards the mountain.” After Elmas’ death, what should be done in the event of a fire came to the agenda. According to experts, most citizens do not know what to do in the event of a fire, and those who try to intervene in the flames unconsciously lose their lives.
SMOKE KILLS
Deputy Chairman of the Turkish Fire Protection and Education Foundation, Taner Kaboğlu, stated that the place where the fire is caught is important and said, “If you are at home, escape using the fire escape stairs. If a fire broke out on the upper floors, this time it is necessary to escape from the lower floors. If the fire is on the lower floors, it is necessary to wait for the fire brigade to arrive in the apartment without opening the apartment door. “People usually die in fires by inhaling smoke. If there is smoke on your escape route, you should protect yourself from exposure to smoke and cover your mouth and nose with a wet cloth. If you have received firefighting training, then the most logical move would be to evacuate rather than try to extinguish the fire,” he said.
DON’T GO TO A BURNING PLACE
When we asked whether it was right for citizens to go to that area with the logic of “the burned area will not burn again”, Kaboğlu said the following: “If you go to the burned area while the fire is still going on, you will breathe in the carbon dioxide there. “You can survive the fire, but breathing that air will have a negative effect on you. Therefore, it is necessary to get out of the burning place. If you do not have basic fire training, you need to inform everyone without panicking. Those who lost their lives die while trying to extinguish the fire with courage, if you are not trained, it is best not to intervene.”
AWARENESS IT TO YOUR ENVIRONMENT
Fire Risk Expert Cemal Kozacı also emphasized that the most important thing to do when faced with a fire is to report it to those around us, and said, “After activating the fire alarm button or alarms, the fire department should be notified. A fire extinguisher can be used at the beginning of the fire.”
GO AGAINST THE WIND
Retired firefighter İlker Güncavar shared important information about what to do in case of a fire and what steps to follow if we are caught in a fire in the forest, and said: “First, determine where the fire is coming from and the direction of the wind. Try to move in the opposite direction of the wind. Also, If possible, it would be safe to get to a water source or an open area away from dense vegetation.”
“It is necessary to head towards valleys or flat areas from the fire scene. Escaping uphill can be dangerous due to the speed of the fire. Also, considering the speed of the smoke spreading, one should move in the opposite direction of the wind. Other precautions to be taken in case of fire include covering the body with a wet cloth or clothing if possible and using a mask or cloth to protect the mouth and nose.
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