General Directorate of Forestry Warns 'Let's Not Light a Barbecue in the Forest'

Before the Feast of Sacrifice, the General Directorate of Forestry warned citizens about forest fires. Before the Feast of Sacrifice, the General Directorate of Forestry warned citizens about forest fires. Making a written statement on the subject, Forestry General Manager Bekir Karacabey said, “Both the temperatures above the seasonal norms and the fact that our citizens go to the forests for picnics during the holiday invites fires. It is strictly forbidden to light fires in forests except where permitted under the Forestry Law. As OGM, we take all our measures to prevent fires. However, at this point, our citizens also have a great responsibility. Let's not light a barbecue in the forest, let's not throw cigarette butts," he said.

The OGM, which predicts that the escape to nature will increase with the pandemic process and that this will be experienced more intensely with the Eid al-Adha holiday, once again warned the citizens about forest fires before the feast. 70% of forest fires in Turkey occur in the Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean regions, which are located in the Mediterranean climate zone. Intense forest fires between May and October every year are caused by 90 percent human neglect such as picnic, shepherd and hunter fire, garden and greenhouse cleaning, stubble burning and cigarette butts.

The penalty for lighting a fire in the forest is prison

Forest General Manager Bekir Karacabey stated that both the temperatures above the seasonal norms and the fact that the citizens go to the forests for picnics during the Holidays are an invitation to fires, and said, “It is strictly forbidden to light fires in forests except where permitted in accordance with the Forestry Law. Lighting a fire in prohibited areas, leaving the fire without extinguishing, throwing cigarette butts into the forest, lighting stubble fires are subject to imprisonment from 1 to 3 years and a judicial fine. As OGM, we take all our measures to prevent fires. However, at this point, our citizens also have a great responsibility. Let's not light a barbecue in the forest, let's not throw cigarette butts," he said.

Barbecues are detected by UAVs

Karacabey also gave information about the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), which was used for the first time last year and provided a great benefit in the detection and prevention of fires. Noting that each of the 4 UAVs in Adana, Muğla/Milas, İzmir/Akhisar and Denizli scanned an area of ​​3 kilometers, Bekir Karacabey continued his statement as follows; “Thanks to UAVs, we monitor all fire-sensitive areas and TRNC forests 500 hours a day. This year, 24 fires were detected thanks to UAVs.”