22.03.2018

Fire drills were carried out at Kağıthane-Piyalepaşa, Sarıyer-Çayırbaşı and Halit Ulukurt Tunnels in order to enable the Tunnel Operation Center (TOC), and Istanbul Fire Department to intervene effectively against possible fires in the metros and tunnels.

The 8-hour application part of "Intervention to Metro and Tunnel Events" training, which was given theoretically 16 hours through the "Firefighting E-Academy" system within the scope of the in-service trainings in 2017, was realized with the participation of the fire brigade and TOC personnel in Kağıthane-Piyalepaşa Tunnel on 14th of November.  According to the scenario in Kağıthane-Piyalepaşa Tunnel, a fire broke out in crashing vehicles . After the alarm information obtained from the smoke detector sensors in the tunnel, the operators at TOC sent messages indicating that the tunnel was closed to the Variable Message Systems with LEDs located at the tunnel entrances.

Upon receipt of the allegations, Şişli Fire Department, emergency medical  and tunnel emergency response teams were directed to the scene. The first intervention in the fire was made by the Fire Intervention Robots of Fire Department of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. The smoke formed in the tunnel was evacuated through the smoke repellent vehicles and jet fans in the tunnel. Along with the removal of the wreck, the tunnel opened to two-way traffic after confirmation from the Swift Fire Brigade. The coordinated work of Şişli Fire Department, 112 Medical Emergency Team and TOC personnel successfully completed the exercise which did not search for the conclusion.

Similar exercises were held on November 18th in Halit Ulukurt Tunnel and on November 25th in Sarıyer-Çayırbaşı Tunnel. All exercises were carried out smoothly, thanks to the timely interventions of the relevant units, which had to take action in the event of a fire.

Thanks to the fire drills;

• It was tested that the electromechanical systems in the tunnels run smoothly as the first three minutes of tunnel fires are of great importance.
• It was ensured that the TOC operators in charge were able to carry out the necessary operations in the event of a fire and to direct the Fire Brigade, Medical Emergency and other units to the scene in time.
• Fire brigade teams had the experience of extinguishing the fire in the tunnel by interfering with the tunnel fires.