Each year, Türkiye experiences a rising number of forest fires, especially in the summer. These fires often spark controversial opinions on their causes, with several discussions several discussions claiming they were intended. While climate change increases the frequency of heat waves in Turkey, it also extends the forest fire season. The rising temperatures all across the world also have a severe impact on Türkiye, and it is possible to say that one of the most vital effects climate change has on our country are these wildfires, especially in the Mediterranean or Aegean Coast of Türkiye, along with the biodiversity loss, extinction risks and health problems.
A significant forest fire occurred in Türkiye again in October 2024, in an Aegean city, Denizli. It broke out on the slopes of the Karcı Mountain, which is in the Merkezefendi district of the city. It was brought under control after more than 6 days, and the General Directorate of Forestry declared a success in coping with the wildfire. The declaration also added the fact that the terrain was complicated and it was hard to rely on ground interventions. Hence, helicopters had to be used.
Many people used construction equipment and hand tools to cut lanes. These lanes were used to prevent the fire from spreading. Due to the harsh geography, there were no roads available for transportationin some places, so the teams had to walk long distances to reach the wildfire. A great amount of voluntary work was also available, as it was reported that a large number of volunteers from non-governmental organizations took part in stopping the fire. It was stated that the settlements were not threatened by the fire.
Cihan Erdönmez, an Associate Professor at Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Forestry, said even though helicopters are more frequently used to fight against forest fires, this wildfire was extinguished by also intervening from the ground. He emphasized that a quick act from air is critical while tackling such issues but after a level, terrestrial intervention is required; highlighting that Karcı Mountain is a troubled geography in this aspect. He also stated that a fire in late October at a place hundreds of meters above sea level may be exceptional, and added that we need to be prepared with the changing climates.
Bekir Karacabey, Director General of Forestry, stated that the intervention started in 13 minutes after the notifications of the fire. Furthermore, he pointed out the increasing risk of forest fires as a drawback of climate change. While climate change increases the frequency of heat waves in Turkey, it also extends the forest fire season.
It is important to note that the fire covered a huge area of nearly 400 hectares and was a ground fire. The Director General of Forestry noted that the tree species in this area is larch with thick bark, so there was no burning on the upper parts of the trees. Therefore, it is stated that the forest is expected to maintain its vitality by 90 percent.
The term cover fire refers to the burning of dead or living cover such as grass, leaves and dry branches covering the forest soil. Fires of this type do not pose a serious threat to the trees. However, in general, a presence of flammable materials in the covering layer of the ground can cause a higher risk for this type of wildfires. This is quite different from a crown fire, which is a common type for Türkiye and is the type where trees burn fully, posing a bigger threat. Hopefully, this was not the case for Denizli.
Overall, the forest fire in Denizli was taken under control after 6 days of hard work of the municipalities, volunteers and crews. The type of the fire, as well as the geography of the area where it occurred, added some different challanges to the tackling of the fire. Another article on the general forest fires of Türkiye, “Forest Fires in Coastal Turkey or Opportunities for Construction Companies?” can be found under https://www.theistanbulchronicle.com/post/forest-fires-of-türkiye-concerns-for-the-environment-and-transparency.
Edited by: Oya Yamaç, Ömer Gökçe