Determination of Barriers to Effective Forest Fire Combat from the Gendarmerie Personnel Perspective: A Structural Equation Modelling Evidence from Türkiye

Forest fires increasingly challenge forest governance systems by exposing institutional coordination deficiencies, operational capacity gaps, and policy fragmentation. Although wildfire research has predominantly focused on forestry agencies, the contribution of internal security organizations to wildfire management remains underexplored. This study investigates the organizational barriers to effective forest fire combat from the perspective of Gendarmerie personnel in Türkiye using a Structural Equation Modelling framework. Survey data from 304 Gendarmerie personnel operating in wildfire-prone regions of Türkiye were analyzed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses within a structural equation modelling framework. The analysis identified two closely related dimensions of organizational wildfire-management capacity: Gendarmerie’s Operational Capacity and Gendarmerie’s Preventive Measures and Coordination. The findings suggest that operational capacity and preventive/coordination capacity should be understood as closely interconnected dimensions of organizational wildfire-management capacity. The structural model explains the importance of strengthening institutional capacity and collaborative governance within Türkiye’s wildfire management system. The findings support the implementation of integrated training programmes, enhanced technological infrastructure, standardized inter-agency coordination protocols, and preventive governance strategies to improve organizational preparedness and strengthen national wildfire resilience.