Muğla Mayor Aras: 'We can purchase a helicopter and place it at the disposal of our Regional Directorate of Forestry'

In Muğla, efforts are underway to bring wildfires that broke out around noon in the Yatağan and Ula districts under control through both aerial and ground interventions. Due to the fires, the Nebiköy and Kafaca Ramada neighborhoods were evacuated as a precautionary measure.

As night fell, two night-vision helicopters continued firefighting operations, while ground interventions proceeded without interruption.

Nine hours into the firefighting efforts, Muğla Mayor Ahmet Aras made statements regarding the current status of the fires.

'WE HAVE MOVED TO A CRISIS STATE'

Stating that Muğla has been battling fires that have broken out in various locations for three days and that the metropolitan municipality is on high alert, Mayor Aras said:

"As of today, 3 new fires have broken out in our region. We are currently in Kafaca. The fires that started in the Yatağan, Nava, and Nebiler regions have been partially brought under control through the superior efforts of our teams. Ground cooling operations are ongoing. Although aerial vehicles have limited activity due to the night, two night-vision helicopters are working to prevent the spread of the fire and conduct cooling in different areas. There is another fire that started in the Yaraş region of our Menteşe district and is moving toward the Armutçuk region of Ula. This is currently the most high-risk area. We have been in a crisis state since August 16, have canceled all leave, and are working on a 24-hour basis. We have increased our firefighting team, and our interventions continue. The fires that broke out today in Datça Kızılbük and Bodrum Gölköy were extinguished before they could grow, thanks to the superior efforts of our firefighters and forestry workers."

'WE MUST FOCUS ON THE CAUSE OF THE FIRES'

Stating that the fires are largely caused by human error, Aras issued the following warnings:

"We are currently in a very high-risk period. Most of these fires are caused by human error. 68 percent of our region is covered by forests, and we lost 8 percent of these areas in 2021. Now, unfortunately, we have lost even more forest land with these fires. What is burning there is not just forest; production is also being lost. For this reason, everyone needs to be very careful. We must be more careful so that fires are not caused by human error. This is our call."

BOTH COOLING AND PROTECTION OPERATIONS ARE UNDERWAY

Evaluating the course of the fire throughout the night, Mayor Aras continued:

"Our goal is to protect residential neighborhoods. Although ground intervention is not possible in rugged terrain, we are trying to prevent the fire from reaching our villages and agricultural lands. Our cooling and protection operations are continuing in the Yatağan and Ula Menteşe regions."

IF YOU DISTRIBUTE AUTHORITY, THERE MAY BE CHAOS

Addressing the issue of increasing the authority of municipalities in responding to fires, Aras emphasized "chaos" and said:

"I do not agree with this view. Responding to forest fires is entirely the duty of the Regional Directorate of Forestry and the General Directorate of Forestry. Dispatching and managing aerial vehicles is also within their authority. If you distribute authority, chaos will ensue. However, the number of aerial vehicles can be increased. These plans should be made in advance, and a strong air fleet should be established. As the metropolitan fire department, we are present wherever the Regional Directorate of Forestry requests us in responding to forest fires. Our coordination on this matter is complete."

Aras stated that the municipality is also taking steps to purchase aerial vehicles, adding, "We are planning to purchase an aerial vehicle in line with our economic strength, and when necessary, we can place these vehicles at the disposal of the Regional Directorate of Forestry."

News Source: 12punto