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2026-07-31 06:11 UTC → 2026-08-01 20:46 UTC ·
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Turkey expands forest fire detection tech and response
Turkey’s Forest General Directorate has broadened Turkey continues to broaden its UAV programme, now employing Chinese‑made UAV‑based forest‑fire management. Building on the 2023 achievement of ranking first in Europe for drone‑assisted fire monitoring, the fire services in İzmir have been equipped with DJI drones fitted with thermal‑imaging cameras in cities such as İzmir to spot that locate hot spots through dense smoke. Real‑time smoke and stream live video, heat‑maps and GPS coordinates are streamed data to the national Fire Coordination Center, enabling fire‑fighting units to be dispatched within minutes Center for rapid crew dispatch and allowing authorities to model fire spread toward populated areas. evacuation planning. In Adana, the forestry office modified department has further adapted drones to transport protective fire‑fighting gear and first‑aid supplies kits into rugged inaccessible terrain, improving crew safety and reducing casualty risk. lowering risk to personnel. The expansion has earned Turkey the top spot in Europe for drone‑assisted fire monitoring, reflecting sustained investment programme, which originated in domestic drone capabilities, notably from Baykar, whose 2016 under the defence firm Baykar—whose technical leadership is tied linked to the presidential family. Parallel to the aerial effort, family—now complements the Manisa Metropolitan Municipality’s AI‑driven 360° thermal‑camera network continues to operate across 17 districts, automatically detecting land fires and issuing instant alerts. operating in Manisa. Together, the enlarged expanded UAV fleet, AI camera system, system and logistical drone adaptations modifications illustrate a coordinated national strategy to achieve faster, more precise detection and suppression of forest and land fires.