Mersin, Turkey conducts 423‑hectare forest fire drill in Silifke

The Mersin Forest Regional Directorate staged a large‑scale forest‑fire exercise in Silifke’s Çadırlı neighbourhood. The scenario began with a 112 emergency call, after which local forest units rushed to the site and faced rapid fire spread driven by strong winds and spot fires.

The drill simulated a fire covering roughly 423 hectares and required coordination across multiple agencies. Teams from neighboring forest districts, Mersin Metropolitan fire trucks, water tankers, TOMA crowd‑control vehicles, and a fleet of helicopters—including a dedicated fire‑suppression chopper—were deployed. A temporary fire‑coordination centre was set up at the Çamdüzü assembly point to manage the response.

In total, 61 vehicles and air assets participated, including 26 water‑bombing tankers, 12 first‑response units, 10 water tankers, 4 fire engines, 3 dozers, and several helicopters. Officials highlighted that the exercise tested inter‑agency communication, resource allocation, and command structures, aiming to improve readiness for real forest‑fire incidents in the region.