Investigation of the effects of liquids used for fire suppression and delay in helicopter bambi (Water bucket) operations in forest fires

Forest fires; These are events that can occur consciously, due to natural causes or by malicious people, when the temperature rises above seasonal norms. Forest fires occur due to the combination of drought, high temperatures, wind and human factors. These fires can cause loss of flora and fauna, damage to ecosystems, economic losses and situations that threaten people's lives. Moreover, due to forest fires, both trees and thousands of creatures living in the forest disappear. Wildfires around the world are affected by many factors, including climate change, drought, human activities and fire management deficiencies. The frequency and severity of forest fires are increasing, especially in countries such as Australia, the United States, Brazil, Spain and Portugal. These fires spread over large areas and seriously affect natural life and ecosystems. Forest fires are considered one of the most serious threats among natural disasters worldwide. In recent years, large forest fires that have occurred in various regions have seriously affected natural life, ecosystems and human settlements. Regarding the largest forest fires in the world until 2023; The forest fires that occurred in Australia in 2019 and 2020 are one of the most notable fire events worldwide. These fires were severe in various states of Australia and caused the burning of millions of hectares of land. The United States struggles with fires in various regions every year. In 2020, severe wildfires along the West Coast affected many states of the country. Especially the fires in California, Oregon and Washington states have attracted great attention. Siberia is famous for its vast forest areas and is subject to frequent forest fires. In 2019 and 2020, fires in Siberia were recorded as one of the largest fire events in the history of the region. These fires caused the burning of millions of hectares of land and large￾scale ecosystem destruction. The Amazon Forest is one of the largest tropical rainforests in the world and is home to a lot of biodiversity. However, the fires that occurred in the Amazon in 2019 were recorded as the largest fire wave in the history of the region. Turkey is a country where forest fires occur frequently, as it has hot and dry climate conditions, especially in the summer months. In recent years, forest fires have increased, especially in the Aegean, Mediterranean and Southeastern Anatolia regions. These fires are mostly caused by human activities, carelessness, agricultural activities and fire prevention deficiencies. Forest fires cause many environmental, economic and social damages. Among these; Destruction of natural life: Forest fires cause the destruction of vegetation and habitats, the loss of animal habitats and the decrease in biodiversity. Economic losses: Fires cause damage to agricultural lands, forests and agricultural products, damage to settlements and losses in the tourism sector. Human losses and health problems: Fires threaten people's lives and health and can cause air pollution and respiratory diseases. Social impacts: Fires can cause social problems such as displaced people, psychological effects, social unrest and migration movements. Türkiye, as a country with various climate and geographical characteristics, frequently faces forest fires. In recent years, forest fires in Turkey have seriously affected natural life, ecosystems and human settlements. When we look at the burning areas; The forest fire that broke out in Manavgat district of Antalya in 2020. The forest fire that started in 2021 in Muğla's Marmaris district, the forest fire in Aydın's Karpuzlu district in 2022, and the forest fire in Muğla's Milas district in 2023 were recorded as the largest fires in Turkey. The fire spread rapidly under the influence of hot weather and wind and affected thousands of hectares of forest area. In the fire, many houses and workplaces were damaged, the habitats of animals were destroyed and thousands of people had to leave their homes. Large forest fires around the world seriously affect natural life, ecology and human life. These fires are affected by many factors such as climate change, drought, carelessness, agricultural activities and fire management deficiencies. The main goal in forest fires is to prevent and extinguish the spread of fires with early, rapid and effective intervention. In addition to extinguishing from land, emergency interventions from the air are important. Many methods and tools are used to control and extinguish forest fires. An aircraft used as a passenger or freight plane or helicopter in daily life can be converted into a firefighting concept with a practical transformation. It is thought that with such decreasing costs and increasing sense of belonging, firefighting determination can be taken to the next level. Countries can initiate fire mobilization with both fire fleets and State Aircraft (DHA) within their own means. Forest fire; Detection before it starts, immediate intervention when it occurs, and subsequent regrowth processes are essential for forest life. Air support elements working in this area are carrying out aerial extinguishing operations with airplanes and helicopters. Fire helicopters provide support to firefighting teams in fire extinguishing operations with reconnaissance, surveillance, cargo and passenger transportation and extinguishing work. In this method, which involves dropping water/retardant onto the burning area from the most suitable place and height via helicopter, the required water is transferred to the nearest lake/sea, etc. It is supplied from the water source. These operations provide firefighting teams with the ability to deliver water to hard-to-reach areas and control fires. The tanks (Helitak) fixed under the fuselage are filled with a water suction pump of several meters connected to the end of the water intake hose. Aerial fire extinguishing operations to be carried out with Helicopter Water Buckets (HSK) through the rope attached to the underbody load carrying hook are vital air extinguishing devices to control the spread of fire and support the teams in the fire area. One of the common methods used to extinguish forest fires from the air is intervention with "Bambi" (Helicopter Water Bucket). They may be equipped with Helicopter Water Buckets (HSK), fire retardant materials or other fire extinguishing equipment. HSKs are available in different appearances and sizes, depending on the helicopter lifting ability. Along with the commonly used HSKs, chronic malfunctions during the HSK operation phase and the negativities caused by the malfunctions should be evaluated. Aviation and fire issues, which are disciplinary processes in themselves, should be considered as a transdisciplinary concept that should be taken seriously in terms of aerial fire extinguishing. In HSK operations, effective extinguishing is necessary rather than the number of sorties made. For this reason, additives that will increase the effect of water are used. These additives are called fire retardants and are chemical substances used to control fires and prevent them from recurring. They can be in the form of foams, powders or liquids and can control the spread of fire. Although it is known that there are many products that are effective in extinguishing forest fires, the issues of regrowth and renewal of nature after a fire are also important. It should be remembered that the nature-friendly nature of the products used is important for the sustainability and fate of the forest and therefore the human future. In this thesis study, which was put forward in order to ensure faster and more effective extinguishing of forest fires, it was aimed to intervene with a mixture with a higher evaporation point and heat capacity than the water used in Bambi hsk. Within the scope of the thesis study, it is aimed to prepare the appropriate mixture, conduct quenching experiments and demonstrate the quenching effect according to water. In the study, experiments will be conducted according to the procedure in accordance with TS 862- 7 EN 3-7 + A1 standard and the results of extinguishing with a mixture of water and mayii and fire retardation problems will be compared. The yellow pine tree to be used in the experiments has been prepared in accordance with the standards. Yellow pine samples must have certain dimensions and meet the specifications specified in the standards. Extinguishing tests are performed with 5 pieces of 5x5x50cm yellow glass blocks in accordance with the TS 862-7 5/A test. In flammability tests, the results were compared by burning 2,5x2,5x15 cm yellowwood blocks impregnated with retardant yeast. The experiments are carried out in a controlled environment. Since the study was within the scope of forest fire, a controlled experiment was carried out outdoors. Fire parameters, combustion, extinguishing, cooling stages are controlled in accordance with the standards. By observing the fire behavior of the yellow pine tree, outputs such as the spread of the fire, the state of the flames, smoke and gas output are obtained. Evaluations can be made in the light of these outputs. After the fire experiment is completed, the combustion time, unburned parts and other characteristics of the samples are evaluated. These evaluations contain important information about the fire resistance of the yellow pine block. The results are reported in accordance with the standards that can be used in the behavior of the material against fire and the strategies to be determined in the fight against fire. Wood flammability tests are carried out to determine the fire resistance of materials, and extinguishing experiments are carried out to reach the most reasonable extinguishing option. These experiments help determine how materials behave during a fire, the rate of combustion, and firefighting strategies. Thanks to this, the fire will be extinguished faster and it is planned that the fire will not recur. During this time, it will also be possible for the extinguishing team to save time for cooling operations. Forest fires are a global problem and cause serious damage. For this reason, it is important to develop fire protection and control strategies, increase fire fighting capacity, reduce fire risk and raise public awareness. In addition, combating climate change is an effective measure to reduce the risk of fire. Cooperation and coordination at local, national and international levels are required to reduce the effects of forest fires. In this way, we can protect our forests and leave a clean environment for future generations.