Turkey is increasing its early warning capability by utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the fight against forest fires. Speaking to Anadolu Agency, General Director of Forestry Bekir Karacabey emphasized that the most critical element of firefighting is detecting the fire as quickly as possible.
Karacabey stated that forests across Turkey are monitored by 776 watchtowers, and that UAVs have been integrated into this system since 2020. He noted that UAVs equipped with thermal cameras can detect the heat caused by a fire before visible smoke appears.
Karacabey reported that Turkey currently deploys 14 UAVs to support forest surveillance and firefighting operations, and said, "Turkey is one of two countries in the world that use UAVs for monitoring and managing forest fires." He did not name the other country.
Noting that a UAV can operate continuously for up to 24 hours without needing refueling, Karacabey said that fire managers in the field can monitor the images and data from the UAVs in real time via mobile phones, fire command vehicles, and coordination centers. He added that this shortens response time and increases the efficiency of firefighting efforts.