Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department teams conducted a fire drill in the 35-meter-long Konak Tunnel, where approximately 674 thousand vehicles pass daily. Breathtaking moments were experienced in the drill, which strengthened the teams' response reflexes to fires and traffic accidents inside the tunnel.
The drills conducted by the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department to ensure that firefighters can respond quickly and effectively to emergencies such as fire, accidents and disasters are as real as reality. The teams also organized a breathtaking drill in the 674-meter-long Konak Tunnel connecting Mustafa Kemal Coastal Boulevard and Yeşildere Street. In both tunnels, where approximately 35 thousand vehicles pass daily, traffic accidents and then fires were reported as per the scenario. After the call center received the report, the teams prepared to go to the scene and arrived at the tunnels that were closed to vehicle traffic in a short time. Firefighters who intervened in the vehicle fire created with artificial smoke also rescued the injured vehicle drivers.
“They are gaining experience for rapid intervention”
Fire Department Fire and Emergency Response Branch Manager Aydın Mutlu said that there are 5 tunnels in Izmir and that they conduct drills at certain intervals to be prepared for situations such as fires and traffic accidents. Emphasizing that the drills are important for the fire department, Aydın Mutlu said, “Thanks to these drills, our teams get to know the inside of the tunnel. In this way, they gain experience in rapid response to a possible fire or accident.”
“Our citizens also have an important duty”
Mutlu stated that citizens have important duties in cases such as accidents or fires inside the tunnel, and said: “In such cases, citizens should first give way to firefighters. If possible, they should pull their vehicles to the right and left of the road using a method called the zipper system. If there is heavy smoke inside the tunnel, they should abandon their vehicles and exit the tunnel through the emergency exit gates.”
Following the drill, fire hydrants inside the tunnel were also checked.
