GIS Transforms Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department

Stunning coastlines and fertile agricultural plains have drawn more than 1.2 million people to Balıkesir, one of Türkiye’s largest provinces. Yet, as the destination has grown in popularity, the Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department has been called to more frequent natural disasters and emergency events. In 2024, the department responded to 10,111 emergency events, including fires, floods, traffic accidents, and search-and-rescue operations.

“The number and variety of incidents that fire departments respond to have increased day by day,” said Nazım Ergelen, head of the Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department.

Geographic information system (GIS) technology helps the department’s 662 personnel across 44 stations strengthen and coordinate its emergency response efforts.

“We believe in the power of GIS for managing incidents effectively and reducing risks,” continued Ergelen. “In line with Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality’s smart city vision, we have built a fire management system based on geographic data that connects all fire units.”

Location data now drives every operation. Using ArcGIS technology and web-based tools, the department has changed how it collects, analyzes, and acts on critical information. With it, firefighters respond faster and work together more effectively.

Leaders of Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department knew that, to protect lives and property, they needed to centralize information. They also needed mobile data collection, real-time and historical insights, and web maps with management panels. Achieving this required one connected, location-driven system—and GIS, specifically ArcGIS Enterprise, made that possible.

This self-hosted platform brings together apps and tools that turn complex analysis into clear maps, dashboards, and actionable content.

After the department moved all incident data into one secure GIS, previously scattered records were unified in an accessible system. With ArcGIS Enterprise, leaders manage events in real time, review history, plan risk reduction, and oversee training—all from a single platform.

ArcGIS Enterprise gave the Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department one platform to manage all emergency responses. The team began by converting existing records into spatial data with ArcGIS Pro. Using web GIS apps like ArcGIS Experience Builder, staff built interactive, real-time tools to document emergencies. These tools support both the Fire Department and Disaster Coordination Centre responders.

Today, the system stores more than 56,000 detailed incident records. These include fires, traffic accidents, floods, and search and rescue operations. All records are available to staff at the 112 Emergency Call Center, who help coordinate responses more effectively.

Firefighters use mobile devices and ArcGIS Field Maps to collect incident data and send real-time updates from stations to managers. This information flows into ArcGIS Dashboards—a tool in ArcGIS Enterprise—where it is visualized so leaders can instantly see current and past incidents. The dashboards feature updated address data to ensure accurate locations and faster dispatch, improving response times across all emergencies.

ArcGIS Dashboards also gives decision-makers a clear view of trends and risks. Fire chiefs use these dashboards to identify high-risk areas, track patterns, and plan prevention strategies.

ArcGIS Enterprise powers more than emergency response—it also streamlines asset management and training. The fire department uses the platform to manage stations, fire extinguishing tankers, hydrant points, inspections, and training records in one connected system.

The Water Hydrant Control Panel, built with ArcGIS Dashboards, gives leaders a clear view of hydrant status. It uses data collected through ArcGIS Field Maps to track inspections and conditions, so teams know which hydrants work and where new ones are needed. This system keeps a digital record and updates tasks in real time, making operations faster and more efficient.

To reduce flood risks, the department also created a GIS app for urban flooding. This tool helps plan and monitor flood response and is shared with the Balıkesir Water Authority to improve coordination.

ArcGIS Enterprise also strengthens firefighter training and public outreach. The department maintains a location-based archive of training sessions. Leaders analyze this data to identify high-risk areas and tailor programs to local needs. This approach builds skills in priority districts and improves community engagement.

GIS now shapes how the fire department works every day. By connecting data and people through one system, the team responds quickly and makes better decisions. These changes protect lives and property across Balıkesir.

ArcGIS Enterprise powers tools like interactive dashboards, simulations, and early warning systems that help leaders act with confidence. Residents benefit from faster emergency service and smarter planning. The department also shares its GIS success at training sessions and city events, showing its commitment to innovation and smart city goals.

Next, the fire department plans to link GIS with smart sensors and devices. These upgrades will strengthen prevention and make risk reduction even more effective—keeping Balıkesir ready for whatever comes next.