Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum

Other Local Resorts & Areas => Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum => Topic started by: scouser2 on October 04, 2011, 09:30:53 AM

Title: Fire Department non response.
Post by: scouser2 on October 04, 2011, 09:30:53 AM: Yesterday, our neighbours in the next complex to us had a fire on the terrace of the apartment below them (which was empty).As my wife went to yell them to get out of their apartment I attempted to call the fire brigade. I dialled 110 and gave the address, and said imdat.I explained that I speak little Turkish (in Turkish)and said there was a fire. The man on the end of the phone appeared to not speak English.
By this time my wife had ran down stairs to our Turkish neighbour for help. He went outside with our hosepipe and put the fire out.It took about 20 mins.But for our Turkish neighbour, the damage could have been catastrophic.
I am concerned that there appears to be no English speaking people answering the phone on emergency numbers.No-one from the fire Dept came out in response to my call.
Title: Fire Department non response.
Post by: mercury on October 04, 2011, 10:44:03 AM: Funnily enough there were firemen at the opposite block of apartments yesterday evening. They came within 10 mins of calling but maybe because they are Turksih speakers.
Title: Fire Department non response.
Post by: Highlander on October 04, 2011, 12:39:55 PM: Whilst fully sympathising with you for what must have been a harrowing experience and sharing your concern regarding the non attendance of the fire department, is it realistic to expect the emergency number to be answered by someone who speaks English.

There must be a number of foreign nationals living in Turkey, German Dutch and Russian for example and it would surely not be practical for the answering service to cater for all the different languages.

After all, a Turkish national living in the UK would not be able to speak to someone who spoke Turkish if he or she dialled 999.
Title: Fire Department non response.
Post by: Steve (redding43) on October 04, 2011, 17:01:02 PM: Completely agree

quote:
Originally posted by Highlander

Whilst fully sympathising with you for what must have been a harrowing experience and sharing your concern regarding the non attendance of the fire department, is it realistic to expect the emergency number to be answered by someone who speaks English.

There must be a number of foreign nationals living in Turkey, German Dutch and Russian for example and it would surely not be practical for the answering service to cater for all the different languages.

After all, a Turkish national living in the UK would not be able to speak to someone who spoke Turkish if he or she dialled 999.
Title: Fire Department non response.
Post by: KKOB on October 04, 2011, 18:07:04 PM: And I agree with Highlander too.
Title: Fire Department non response.
Post by: Toky on October 04, 2011, 19:14:55 PM: It just highlights our arrogance as a race, to expect every other nation to be able to speak English. When in Rome ......etc
8)
Title: Fire Department non response.
Post by: Highlander on October 04, 2011, 20:33:10 PM: To be fair to scouser2, he did, in a stressful situation, try and use Turkish.

It was the concern about there being no-one who spoke English that I found surprising.
Title: Fire Department non response.
Post by: Julesp on October 04, 2011, 22:34:02 PM: I never expect people to speak english in these situations, if you are not fluent in turkish the easiest thing to do is to phone a turk friend and get him or her to phone for you, not many more seconds lost than if you are trying to explain in Turkish that you dont know too well or when they dont understand any English
Title: Fire Department non response.
Post by: Highlander on October 04, 2011, 22:46:44 PM: Useful advice Jules :).
Title: Fire Department non response.
Post by: bewva on October 04, 2011, 22:49:18 PM: Our 999 operators would need to understand about 100 different languages with the way we open our borders up.:(
Title: Fire Department non response.
Post by: Jim Fraser on October 04, 2011, 23:02:14 PM: Next to our telephone we have an idiots guide of what to say to the emergency services
they all begin "Hemen gel lütfen" which is please come immediately
then we have the address written phonetically.

But Julesp has probably given the best answer available
Title: Fire Department non response.
Post by: Highlander on October 04, 2011, 23:23:04 PM: To scouser2:

Not for the first time on here I may have been guilty of posting without really thinking.

I do stand by my surprise at your concern regarding an English speaking answering service, but what I should have acknowledged was that you and your wife were only trying to help your neighbour.

I am sure that others who have responded would make a similar acknowledgement.
Title: Fire Department non response.
Post by: Toky on October 04, 2011, 23:44:33 PM: Ditto H.
Title: Fire Department non response.
Post by: Rosy on October 05, 2011, 09:21:52 AM: Scousers always wade in to help without hesitation. Well done for having the initiative to sort this problem. I bet the owner of the apartment is grateful to you too. :)

Jules advice is the best I keep the numbers of local people who understand my limited (but improving) Turkish and who would willingly take on calling others in emergency situations.

Again well done Scouse2 :) :)
Title: Fire Department non response.
Post by: cenk on October 05, 2011, 10:52:33 AM: These are what to say in Turkish (Hemen gel lütfen is not used)
For fire, Yangin var and address
For ambulance, Hemen ambluans lazim and address
Title: Fire Department non response.
Post by: Jim Fraser on October 05, 2011, 11:07:42 AM: cheers for that Cenk - the words I have were taken from a tip in one of the Turkish online newspapers - forget which one.
Will amend our idiots guide with your ones - Thanks.
Title: Fire Department non response.
Post by: Libra on October 07, 2011, 09:35:38 AM: Maybe "alo 179" might help in a desperate situation. Don't know if anybody had a similar experience with them ?