'Forest Fire Fighting Volunteer Training' Event Held at the Faculty of Communication
"Fire Fighting Volunteer Training" was held within the framework of the "Becoming a Fire Fighting Volunteer" project initiated in cooperation with Pamukkale University (PAU) Public Relations and Publicity Department and the Regional Directorate of Forestry.
Denizli Regional Directorate of Forestry Forest Fire Fighting Branch Manager Hakkı Hakan Uysal and Forest Engineer Süleyman Erişel and technical team participated in the event held at AU Faculty of Communication.
"Becoming a Fire Fighting Volunteer" Project by PAU Department of Public Relations and Publicity Students
Pamukkale University Faculty of Communication, Department of Public Relations and Publicity students took action to raise awareness about forest fires and support the fight against them. The students started the "Fire Fighting Volunteer" project to draw attention to forest fires and to be a solution to this global problem.
Forest Engineer Süleyman Erişel, who made a presentation within the scope of the project, gave information about fire formation, combustible material, fire types, fire extinguishing methods, fighting tools used in forest fires and forest fire prevention activities. He also talked about rehabilitation after fire extinguishing, occupational safety, fire fighting volunteer directive and factors affecting the occurrence of forest fires. Erişel stated that weather conditions, wind intensity and direction, humidity, the way the tree stands, terrain structure, terrain aspect and the type of combustible material are effective in the formation and progression of fire.
"We are the third in the world in fire fighting"
Stating that it is easier to extinguish fires at night and that 88% of the fires are preventable, Erişel said that Turkey ranks third in the world in terms of extinguishing forest fires and that they go to help extinguish forest fires in other countries. Informing that Denizli is a sensitive area for forest fires, Erişel said that they also provide support to other neighboring provinces in extinguishing fires. Erişel emphasized that the forest organization planted the most trees, that the fires with the highest loss of life are bush fires, and that the most important thing to be considered when going to extinguish forest fires is life safety because the tree can be compensated, but the lost life will not come back.
Artificial Intelligence is Utilized in Fire Fighting
Stating that the fire can be extinguished with fire by lighting a counter fire, Erişel emphasized in his presentation the importance of rehabilitation after the fire is extinguished. Erişel stated that within the scope of rehabilitation works, the roots of the burnt trees are cut to prevent re-fire and the burnt area is reforested and that there is a law in the Constitution on the reforestation of the burnt area within one year. Erişel continued his words as follows: "We monitor our forests 24 hours a day, we have 758 towers, 117 towers have cameras, they detect smoke with artificial intelligence and give warnings, there are fire management vehicles, they have technological devices, internet, computers, radios that allow us to communicate with air and land vehicles. All decisions are made from these vehicles."
"General Directorate of Forestry is the third most martyred institution"
Erişel stated that the forest organization is a very deep-rooted organization established in 1839 and that the Ottoman Empire kept very good records. Erişel, who informed that the General Directorate of Forestry is the institution that gives the most martyrs after the military and police, said that forest extinguishing volunteers are mostly asked for help in extinguishing 'cover fires'. Underlining that clothes used in fire extinguishing are made for volunteer teams and those who do not have a fire volunteer ID are not allowed in the fire zone, Erişel stated that compensation is paid in case of a negative situation, transportation, eating, drinking and accommodation needs are met when going to extinguish fires, and those who show outstanding success are given a certificate of appreciation. Finally, Erişel warned that fraudsters can collect money by stating that they need help in the fire zone.
After the presentation made to the students in the classroom environment, the students were shown how the landspeeder brought to PAU is used in fires and the students who wanted to practice fire extinguishing. At the end of the event, Lecturer Dr. Emel Sarıtaş said, "Our hope is that forest fires do not occur, we thank the fire extinguishing volunteer training team for raising awareness." The event, which attracted the attention of the students, ended after the collective photo shoot.
