An evaluation on the use of water tanks in the fight agains forest fires: A case study of Kastamonu Regional Directorate of Forestry

It is the manpower and the human-driven aerial and land vehicles and equipment that are the main elements in the fight against the forest fires and in fire extinguishing efforts. As land vehicles, the water trucks which are under the proprietary of General Directorate of Forestry have an important place in the activities for the fight against the forest fires. In addition to these, water tanks, as first responder equipment, play an important role in fire-fighting in the areas which are difficult and time-consuming to access. For this reason, tractor-mounted and shaft-driven water tanks with the water holding capacity of 2.5 tons have been distributed to the forest villages by the General Directorate of Forestry since 2009. This study investigates the use of water tanks distributed by Kastamonu Regional Directorate of Forestry in the fight against forest fires. The questionnaire method was employed in evaluating the use of the water tanks. 193 water tanks were distributed from 2009 to the end of 2014. A significant correlation was observed between the number of water tanks distributed and the degree of fire sensitivity of the forestry operation directorates for the forest fires because almost 50 % of the forests under the responsibility of General Directorate of Forestry is located in the areas which have second-degree fire sensitivity. 63 % of the water tanks was distributed to the forestry operation directorates which are located in the areas that are of second-degree fire sensitivity. Likewise, there existed a significant correlation between the number of forest fires and the number of the water tanks. Therefore, it can be stated that the number of forest fires are taken into consideration when distributing water tanks. Given the fact that the villagers living in or near the forestry areas can have a faster access to the forest fires than the fire-fighting crew of the forestry operation directorates, and that they can respond more promptly to the fires, the practice of distributing 2.5-ton water tanks for the forest villages can be said to be a proper practice fitting for the purpose.