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A husband and wife who took up search and rescue volunteering following the 2023 earthquakes are now working side by side to help bring a forest fire in the Aksu district of Antalya under control.
The 27-year-old couple, Irem Pinar and Hakan Goksen, who work in advertising and live in Antalya, decided to become volunteers after watching search and rescue efforts on television following the Feb. 6 earthquakes.
The couple trained in urban and wilderness search and rescue, firefighting, and evacuation procedures, participating in both theoretical training and field drills.
After completing their training, they initially worked separately in areas where volunteers were needed, supporting evacuation, firefighting, and cooling operations during various forest fires. The fire in the Karaoz neighborhood, in Antalya's Aksu district, marked the first time the couple worked together on the same operation.
Working under the coordination of Türkiye's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) and the General Directorate of Forestry (OGM), the couple is taking part in evacuation and cooling efforts, supporting professional crews in challenging conditions marked by high temperatures. They carry hoses at the fire site, assist with cooling operations, and help wherever crews need support.
Goksen stated that this was the first time she and her husband had worked together at a fire site, saying they support each other not just as a married couple, but as a strong team.
She said they came to the area as soon as they heard about the fire and immediately began response efforts, explaining that their main role is supporting OGM and AFAD with cooling and evacuation work. "It's not easy, but we're doing everything we can," she added.
Goksen said she wrote her university thesis on the 2021 forest fire in Antalya's Manavgat district and, a year later, produced a documentary examining its effects on the region.
She said she and her husband have been married for a year and a half but have volunteered with SAR Search and Rescue Association for two years, during which they were usually assigned to different locations.
Aksu, she noted, was their first joint assignment, though she had previously worked on other fires in the district the year before. "My husband and I are fighting shoulder to shoulder here to protect our 'green homeland,'" she said.
Goksen called for greater public awareness around forest fires, saying, "Our lungs are burning." She encouraged even those who consider themselves too busy to find time to join relief efforts or become forest volunteers, noting that every form of help is needed on-site.
She pointed to the physical demands of the work, saying that carrying heavy hoses helps forestry crews respond to flames more quickly, and added that even handing out water and ayran, a traditional Turkish yogurt-based drink, can make a meaningful difference.
Hakan Goksen said the couple volunteers with the SAR Search and Rescue Association team and travels to areas in need during natural disasters. Noting that the Aksu fire was the first operation he and his wife worked on together, Goksen said they carry out their volunteer work entirely of their own will.
Goksen said their training allows them to move more confidently in the field, noting that he trusts his wife and teammates a great deal, which makes working together in difficult conditions easier. "Our only goal is to put out the flames as quickly as possible," he said.
Inviting those who want to volunteer to join civil society organizations, Goksen said they welcome anyone who loves their homeland, their nation, their land, and their forests to become a volunteer.
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