Ardeşen (Rize) forest fires caused by meteorological conditions in March 2014

Relationship between the weather conditions and forest fires in the winter and the spring that seen occasionally in Rize and its counties were investigated at Ardeşen forest fire example which occured on March 25, 2014. The probabilities that are likely to be effective in preparing the fire conditions were evaluated by examining the hourly meteorological data for the previous four weeks before the fire. While the precipitation wasn’t observed at previous 108 hours from fire, wind speed increased rapidly from southeast direction in the last 12 hours before fire, at the same time relative humidity decreased and the temperature rose to 27ºC level. The combination of these parameters are weather conditions which is characteristic in a typical foehn periot. Loss of moisture from the soil surface that covered with organic residual in the forest floor was accelerated under these conditions and increased susceptibility to the fire. The fire probability, by use of the samemeteorological data were tested with FWI. The results of this test confirmed the increased level of risk on day of fire.