Drawing attention to the increasing barbecue-related forest fires in summer, Head of Occupational Health and Safety Department Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan said, "The habit of lighting barbecues should be abandoned today. Hundreds of hectares of forest area are lost every year just for this reason."
Dr. Rüştü Uçan called on picnickers to use modern alternatives such as food they bring from home instead of barbecues and natural gas barbecue areas offered by municipalities.
Head of Occupational Health and Safety Department at Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Health Sciences, Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan pointed to the increasing number of barbecue-related fire incidents in the summer months.
Barbecues must be abandoned!
“The habit of lighting barbecues should be abandoned today,” said Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan, adding, “Hundreds of hectares of forest area are lost every year just for this reason. Places with natural gas-powered barbecues created in forested areas meet this need. There are places that cook meat and other vegetables to be fried, such as eggplant, at very affordable prices and offer them to users. Many municipalities are rapidly creating such event areas. It would be beneficial for municipalities that do not have them to create such areas.”
Picnic food should be prepared at home!
Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan stated that families going on a picnic can prepare olive oil dishes and meatballs at home beforehand and bring them to the area in containers, saying, “Similarly, pre-brewed teas can be brought in thermoses, and the desired picnic can be realized. In this way, forest fires due to barbecues are prevented. At the same time, children's injuries due to hot water or barbecue overturning while playing with a ball are avoided.”
Do not do it in wooded areas!
Dr. Uçan noted that if barbecuing is absolutely desired, wooded areas should not be chosen, stating, “There should be no dry grass or brushwood near the open area where barbecues are made. There must be a full fire extinguisher with us.”
Uçan stated that after barbecuing, the barbecue should be extinguished with water, saying, “After the barbecue, the remaining parts should be taken home along with the barbecue, and items like nylon and plastic bags should not be left in the picnic area.”
Our public's awareness level regarding barbecues is very low
Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan emphasized that if an uncontrolled fire starts while barbecuing, extinguishing should begin immediately with a fire extinguisher without losing time, and concluded his words as follows:
“Our public’s awareness level regarding barbecues is very low. For this reason, absolutely do not light barbecues in groves. Use the barbecues in the recreation areas of municipalities or enjoy your day with food you bring from home, such as olive oil dishes and meatballs.”