Our headline photo shows a devastating forest fire that happened in 2014 at Adresan, in Antalya.
Yesterday a small fire on the maquis covered hillside in Taşyaka was quickly extinguished by Fethiye’s brave helicopter team from the Forestry Ministry.
Thankfully this fire caused hardly any damage but today another ‘copter was seen flying over Fethiye. with a hot, and most likely, dry summer to come, be on your guard.
If you see a whiff of smoke coming from the forests that surround Fethiye get on the phone and call 177 before it’s too late.
We don’t want a forest fire in Fethiye like they had in Adresan.
Small maquis fire in Taşyaka on Sunday
Green But Tinder Dry
Turkey has approximately 22 million hectares of forests, most of which is on the coasts or in the immediate hinterland, covering 26% of the country.
These forests are an important part of Turkey’s rich, diverse ecological environment as well as being productive: timber and honey being among the most important.
Whilst they can appear lush and green, Turkey’s forests are in fact tinder dry, even at this time of year and highly vulnerable to fire during the summer months.
Preventable
Many fires are as a result of a cigarette carelessly thrown out of a car window, picnickers making a campfire or barbeque, which gets out of control or is not properly extinguished, or farmers burning stubble after harvesting.
Other significant causes are from hunting guns, broken electric cables or lightning, rubbish (glass in particular) and on occasion from the deliberate and act of fire-raising.
Here are a few tips to help keep Fethiye’s wildlife safe and its environment beautiful, tidy and free from forest fires.
Raise the Alarm
Forestry helicopter flying over Fethiye
If you see a forest fire or are suspicious that one has been started please call 177 immediately.
Enjoy Fethiye’s marvellous countryside but please watch out for fire risks.
The post Forest Fires – Be On Your Guard this summer appeared first on Fethiye Times.