Uninterrupted work for the green homeland: 24/7 monitoring and coordination at the Fire Management Center

The teams working at the Fire Management Center under the General Directorate of Forestry, affiliated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, work 24/7 against forest fires throughout Turkey, monitoring and managing the intervention processes in real time. The intervention process is initiated by directing air and land elements upon incoming fire notifications. The teams working at the center quickly coordinate and dispatch personnel and equipment according to the size of the fire and the region where it is located.

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı visited the Fire Management Center as part of the intense fight against the increasing fires. Minister Yumaklı, who received information about the latest situation in the field from the teams on duty at the center, also examined the coordination screens regarding the dispatch process of air and land elements.

"Our first response time to fires, which was 40 minutes, has decreased to 11 minutes"

Forest Fire Department Director Alper Yılmaz, in his statement regarding the Fire Management Center, said, "We analyze the map that determines fire risks the day before, the weekly meteorology air risk map. Our 2,742 intervention vehicles actively patrol during the hours when the risk is high. We coordinate the areas where the risk is high and create routes for our 14 UAVs, especially operationally, on this map the day before. We ensure that they mainly work in the areas where the risk is high at the time of day the next day. Our first response time to fires, which was 40 minutes in the 2000s, has now decreased to 11 minutes with our increased machine difference, tools and equipment."

Yilmaz also said that 399 of the 401 fires had been extinguished and 2 were brought under control. Yilmaz stated that strong winds were expected in the two regions mentioned at the end of the afternoon and that according to the meteorological risk map, there would be serious winds on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

UAVs are critical

The technical control room within the center is of critical importance in terms of managing unmanned aerial vehicles. UAVs in the forestry organization’s inventory are monitored and directed from this room 24/7. Fire experts use the data they obtain from the Meteorological Early Warning System (MEUS) to detect risky weather conditions in advance and send warnings to the relevant units.

Technologies supported by artificial intelligence

The systems used at the center are also supported by artificial intelligence technology. Thanks to the software called Decision Support System, areas at risk of fire are analyzed in advance and necessary steps are taken before a fire even starts. The mobile fire management vehicle, which was put into service for the first time this year, also comes into play in large fires. The vehicle, which carries the mobile version of the system in Ankara to the field, enables faster and more effective decisions to be made at the scene.

Reserve forces are also active

In the event of a possible disaster, coordination is also provided at this center for the inclusion of land and air elements of the Turkish Armed Forces, gendarmerie and other public institutions in the process.

UAV

Reporter: News Center