- REPORT IT: The moment we see a forest fire, we should immediately call 112. We should inform the authorities of the location where the fire has occurred using as clear and detailed a description as possible. If we have the chance to send digital location, we should share the area's coordinates with the authorities. After our call ends, we should conserve our phone's battery.
- INTERVENE IF YOU CAN EXTINGUISH IT: If the flames are still at a stage where we can tackle them alone, we should extinguish the fire with leafy branches. If the ground permits, sprinkling soil on the fire will also help us put out the flames. Even if the flames appear to be extinguished, we should make certain the fire is completely out.
- IF YOU CANNOT EXTINGUISH IT, LEAVE THE AREA IMMEDIATELY: In situations where we are certain our intervention will be insufficient, after reporting to the authorities and sharing the area's digital location, we should try to remain calm and quickly leave the area. When determining the route we will use to escape, we should decide based on the type of terrain where the fire has occurred. If we are exposed to thick smoke while escaping, we should cover our mouth and nose with a damp cloth if possible, otherwise with a dry cloth.
IF CAUGHT IN A FIRE ON FLAT GROUND: We should immediately determine the direction of the wind. If the wind is blowing towards us, we should keep the wind at our back and run quickly to the nearest open area. If we are forced to pass near the fire and the burned area is not very large, we should monitor the right and left flanks of the fire and exit through the flank with fewer flames. We should absolutely not move toward the center of the fire.
IF CAUGHT IN A FIRE IN A VALLEY: In valleys, air currents form along with the wind, so the fire will follow a route upward from the valley floor due to the wind's effect. In such a situation, we should run in the opposite direction of the wind and descend to the lower parts of the valley, quickly reaching the nearest open area. We should absolutely avoid using the valley slopes where the fire is continuing as an escape route.
IF CAUGHT IN A FIRE ON ROUGH TERRAIN: Ridges and ridge backs are areas where wind loses its effect or where winds blowing in the opposite direction are present, making them the most suitable shelter areas in the short term. Therefore, when encountering a fire on rough terrain, we should immediately move to the back of the nearest ridge, and then run quickly toward the nearest open area in the opposite direction of the fire.
IF CAUGHT IN A FIRE BY A STREAM: Since flames tend to advance faster parallel to the slope in narrow stream beds and box stream beds, we should avoid creating an escape route parallel to the stream bed.
IF CAUGHT IN A FIRE IN A CANYON: If the wind is at our back and the fire is ahead, the canyon will act as a chimney and the flames will move toward the narrow end of the canyon. Therefore, we should run quickly in the opposite direction of the flames and descend to the widest section of the canyon as much as possible. While escaping, we should be careful of rock fragmentations and fallen trees that may result from extreme heat, and walk while protecting our head in particular. If we cannot proceed in the canyon and there are closed or partially closed cave chambers nearby, we should take shelter in them. When taking shelter in cave chambers, we should avoid proceeding on unfamiliar routes.
IF CAUGHT IN A FIRE IN A RESORT: We should follow the authorities' warnings precisely and leave the area via the nearest and safest route.
If the area where we are caught in the fire is by the sea and the roads are closed, we should plan our route based on the wind direction. If the wind is blowing from the sea to the land, we should stay by the sea and wait to be rescued. If the wind is blowing from the land to the sea, the roads are closed, and there is no other way to escape, we can enter the water to a certain level. If flames appear on the water surface, submerging our entire body and holding our breath for as long as we can will increase our chances of survival.
IF WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIRE: In situations where we have completely lost the opportunity to escape, if there is a hollow nearby, we should enter it; if there is no hollow, we should move to the largest flame-free area and dig as deep a hole as we can for ourselves. During this process, sprinkling the moist soil we remove over ourselves because of its protective function will increase our chances of survival. If it is possible to cover our face with a damp cloth, we should cover our entire face, thus protecting ourselves as much as possible from the spreading gases.
If we are interested in nature sports and other nature activities, it is of great importance that we equip ourselves with heat-resistant fire blankets, heat-resistant 1-2 m² tarps and masks to have on hand during such activities. If we are exposed to a fire during such an activity and there is no area where we can escape, we can enter the hole we dig, cover it with these heat-resistant materials, put on our mask, and create a relatively safe zone for ourselves.
