Mega Forest Fires: Causes, Organization and Management

The year 2021 is important in terms of forest fire history in our country. Because during the end of July to mid-August, when the weather conditions were unusual, fires that could be classified as “mega fires” took place. These fires are very fast-spreading, high-intensity and destructive fires. In cases where the moisture content of fine dead combustible material falls below 7% and the wind speed exceeds 25 km/h, the spread rate, intensity and the severity of fire increase significantly. One of the most important features of mega fires is that the spread of the fire is supported by multiple and long-range spotting. Such fires cannot be intervened directly in situations where flammable materials, terrain conditions and especially weather conditions do not allow. For this reason, when the weather conditions are unusual, the only possible suppression strategy for major fires should be to take precautionary measures to protect lives, important places and resources. In this context, it is a priority to implement measures related to the safety of life and property. In this section, the causes, organization and management of mega forest fires were evaluated, and suggestions made for practical applications. The causes of major fires and the factors affecting the magnitude of the damage of mega fires were evaluated in the context of the fire that affected approximately 55 thousand hectares of land in Antalya-Manavgat in 2021.