Thanks to major advances in firefighting techniques and technologies for constructing fire-resistant buildings, fire losses have been greatly reduced. However, fire disasters that start suddenly and grow rapidly due to external conditions still pose a risk in many countries around the world.

Fires, especially around the world, threaten not only people, but also nature, other living creatures, buildings and much more. According to the National Fire Protection Association, there were 499,000 structure fires in the US in 2018 alone. And when it comes to fire, it's not just the buildings we live in that are at risk. Factories, forests, large production facilities, restaurants, schools, public places, entertainment venues, ships, trains, land, etc. Fires that occur in places where many people are together, such as factories, forests, large production facilities, restaurants, schools, public spaces, entertainment venues, ships, trains, land, etc., can cause more fatal consequences and material losses because they contain many people in one place.

Since there is no coherent initiative for fire brigade coordination across our country, it is not possible to obtain general statistical information on how many fires occurred in which year, how many lives were lost, and the causes of fires. However, the reports shared by provincial fire departments shed light on fire figures in Turkey. According to the Istanbul Fire Brigade 2020 Fire Statistics Report, 19,087 fires occurred in Istanbul alone as of November 2020. Of these fires, 4,023 were residential fires, 169 were factory fires, 6,241 were other building fires, 1,480 were vehicle fires and 7,174 were non-structural fires.

Even the figures shared above for a single province in Turkey are quite large and have caused many material and moral damages. When considered across the country, fire is seen as a danger that deeply affects the society due to the losses it creates. When the damages caused by fire are examined in general;

• First of all, sudden fires cause unavoidable loss of life,
• Destruction of buildings and belongings by fire and becoming unusable,
• Difficulty in getting rid of smoke odor and dirt left in the environment after a fire,
• Disruptions in the electrical and water installations due to fire;

and many other problems arise. At this point, it is vital to invest in fire protection measures. Raising our social awareness about fire and using innovative technologies in fire response systems are among our priorities to protect ourselves from fire hazards.