Gendarmerie Deployed in Antalya! Commandos Patrol 24/7 in Aksu
The Antalya Provincial Gendarmerie Command has deployed commando teams to the field. Here's why the military has left the base.
Recently, with the increase in forest fires in Antalya, gendarmerie commandos have been sent to the field. The public order and commando teams affiliated with Aksu District Gendarmerie Command are patrolling the forests 24 hours a day. The commandos enter difficult-to-reach areas and carry out inspections. Many locations are also monitored with drones. Suspected individuals and activities are immediately reported to field teams, preventing potential fires.
Forest Fires Set Records
According to a report by Ertuğrul Gün from Antalya Körfez Newspaper, in Antalya, which is among Turkey’s leading cities in terms of forest area, there were 72 forest fires in the first seven months of 2023. This number has increased by 86% to 134 this year. Authorities have stated that drought, high temperatures, and human negligence are major causes of these fires. Particularly during the summer months, increased temperatures and low humidity significantly raise the risk of forest fires. Additionally, fires left by picnic areas, cigarette butts, and other forms of negligence are among the leading causes of fires.
Commandos in Action: No Room for Error
In response to the recent rise in fires, gendarmerie commando teams have taken action. The public order and commando teams of Aksu District Gendarmerie Command are on patrol 24 hours a day in forested areas to prevent and control forest fires. Despite challenging terrain, commandos conduct inspections in hard-to-reach areas. This helps in the early detection and prevention of fires. Additionally, drones are used to monitor forested areas from the air. Drone technology allows for the rapid scanning of large areas and detection of potential fires. Suspected individuals and activities are quickly reported to field teams for swift intervention against potential fire threats.
Strict Control from Air and Ground
Aksu District Gendarmerie Commander Lieutenant Ayhan Aktürk stated, “As Aksu District Gendarmerie Command, we are operating with a total of 22 teams, including 12 gendarmerie public order teams, 6 gendarmerie traffic teams, and 4 gendarmerie motorcycle teams. Additionally, we are collaborating with the Antalya Provincial Gendarmerie Command’s TEM Branch, Intelligence Branch, Public Order Branch’s JASAT teams, and the Gendarmerie Commando Battalion Command teams in our region against forest fires. We work 24 hours a day on all roads leading to forested areas. Furthermore, our civilian colleagues also perform duties in forested areas to ensure our inspections. We also receive support from drones in these duties. We utilize all available technological resources. We have photo traps in many locations. We continuously inform our citizens in areas with high fire risks”.
