Antalya Mobilizes Jandarma Commandos Against Escalating Forest Fires
Antalya, Turkey – With the rise in temperatures, forest fires have begun to break out more frequently. To combat this, jandarma commandos have been deployed to patrol the forests 24 hours a day. This measure comes in response to increasing fire incidents, particularly in 2023 when 171 fires damaged 200 hectares, and in the first six months of 2024 when 30 fires affected 60 hectares in Antalya.
To prevent forest fires and warn citizens, enhanced measures have been implemented. Teams from the Antalya Regional Forestry Directorate are stationed in lookout towers round-the-clock to monitor for smoke.
Drones Perform Daylong Patrols
Drones are also being utilized to patrol a 640-kilometer coastal forest stretch from Gazipaşa to Kaş, enabling early intervention in the event of a fire.
Collecting Glass Waste to Mitigate Fire Risk
Jandarma commandos from the Antalya Provincial Gendarmerie Command have started full-gear patrols deep into the forests, accompanied by forestry personnel. These patrol teams also collect glass bottles and other waste that could potentially ignite fires.
Special Fire Detection Dogs in Action
To bolster fire prevention efforts, specially trained fire detection dogs are used by the Antalya Provincial Gendarmerie’s security units for area scans. In a recent operation in the Kemer district, a dog named ‘Zeytin’ played a crucial role. Military units also set up camps in the forest at night to maintain vigilance until dawn.