Investigation of forest fires and human relations in terms of different stakeholder groups

Forest fires are one of the major natural disasters that affect forest ecosystems in our country in the Mediterranean climate zone as well as the fire-sensitive regions of the world. In the factors causing the start of forest fires, like all over the world in our country "HUMAN" is one of the leading causes of fires. This research is intended to determine fire consciousness among the public, to specify the value decisions of the various stakeholders on forest fires by analyzing and evaluating this data, and to develop the assessments and suggestions that will contribute to the prevention and suppression of forest fires. For this purpose, 91 questionnaires were conducted to forest management chiefs working at Muğla Regional Directorate of Forestry, 44 questionnaires to fire workers at Yatağan Forest Management Directorate and 151 questionnaires were conducted to forest villagers living within the same operational boundaries. According to the findings of the research, both forest villagers (36.8%) and forest fire workers (36.4%) think that forest operations managers have the most duties and responsibilities in the fight against forest fires and the most effective fighting tool is helicopter (61.3% and 53.9% in respectively). According to forest villagers, the most critical factor causing forest fire is smoking (45.5%), stubble burning (28.6%) and picnic fever (24.7%). The majority of forest fire workers (90.9%) believe that there is a lack of staff in firefighting and this situation affects productivity of the firefighting (95.5%). The majority of forest management chiefs (91.2%) think that there is a lack of staff in fighting forest fires. The results of similar studies to be conducted in different fire zones will contribute to the development of strategies to increase the efficiency of fire management processes in our country. Keywords: Forest fıres, Fire and Human, Public Relations, Education, Consciousness-raising.