site.btaBulgaria's Volunteer Rescue Units Struggle with Outdated Rules, Limited Resources

Bulgaria remains last in Europe in the number of volunteers, while volunteer emergency units continue to face equipment shortages and operational challenges, National Association of Volunteers Chair Yasen Tsvetkov said here Tuesday during a meeting with volunteer teams in Haskovo Region.

Tsvetkov stressed the Disaster Protection Act, adopted more than 15 years ago, needs updating to reflect current realities, and he highlighted restrictions affecting volunteer emergency vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, noting that mandatory route permits delay responses to fires and emergencies and can even result in fines when routes change during operations.

He also called for better equipment and funding, saying the association currently fills basic gaps through donations. Tsvetkov proposed introducing green emergency lights for volunteer vehicles, following the example of countries such as Czechia. He also said a satellite-based wildfire detection platform developed by volunteers in Hisarya, which provides real-time information on fire locations, terrain, wind direction and nearby water sources and is being discussed with the Fire Safety Directorate and the Interior Ministry for real-world testing.

The meeting coincided with a donation of wildfire firefighting equipment, including 20-litre backpack water pumps, to volunteer units in Haskovo Region, followed by a joint wildfire response training session.