site.btaPresident Radev Presents Badge of Honour to Firefighters, Volunteers for Their Contribution to Tackling Fires in 2025

President Rumen Radev awarded the Presidential Badge of Honour to five firefighters and volunteers for their active participation in combating this year’s large-scale fires and for their significant contribution to national security. The ceremony took place at the Presidency on Friday to mark Volunteer Day, the President’s Press Secretariat said. 

The honourees are Chief Inspector Plamen Petkov, Inspector Gyoko Valchanov, Stelian Haralanov, Yavor Hadzhiev, and Todor Grozdanov. 

In his address, President Radev noted that since last summer this country has faced severe challenges due to prolonged high temperatures and a succession of major fires that endangered the lives and property of thousands of citizens, as well as nature and critical infrastructure. He emphasized that the distinguished firefighters were “on the front line in the battle with the flames,” demonstrating exceptional professionalism, determination and resilience. The President also expressed gratitude to the employees of the General Directorate Fire Safety and Civil Protection for their expertise and timely decisions, and to volunteers across the country for their moral commitment, selflessness and dedication. 

Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Chief Inspector Petkov said he accepted the distinction as recognition not only for those honoured, but for all personnel who work daily under risky conditions and often remain unnoticed.

Chief Inspector Plamen Petkov
Head of the Firefighting and Rescue Activities Sector at the Regional Directorate Fire Safety and Civil Protection - Haskovo (Southeast Bulgaria). Over the summer, he led the forces and equipment involved in containing fires in the municipalities of Topolovgrad, Harmanli and Svilengrad, as well as the response to a derailment incident in Simeonovgrad. Entire villages, numerous buildings and livestock were saved under his leadership.

Inspector Gyoko Valchanov 
Inspector in the Firefighting and Rescue Activities Group at the Regional Directorate Fire Safety and Civil Protection - Stara Zagora (South Bulgaria). During a major fire near Stara Zagora this summer, he directed and managed available forces and resources and coordinated additional teams from Kazanlak, Chirpan, Radnevo, Pavel Banya, Sliven and Plovdiv.

Stelian Haralanov 
Deputy Chair of the National Association of Volunteers in Bulgaria and Head of the volunteer unit in Belovo. He participated in extinguishing fires in the municipalities of Sungurlare, Septemvri and Belovo (South Bulgaria), and in responding to floods in the Elenite resort and Boychinovtsi Municipality. He helped organise the two largest volunteer exercises in Bulgaria — in Bratsigovo Municipality in 2022 and in Belovo Municipality in 2025. 

Yavor Hadzhiev
Head of the volunteer unit “Georgi Izmirliev – Makedoncheto” in Blagoevgrad (Southwest Bulgaria). During the summer, he coordinated the actions of volunteer groups and their cooperation with the General Directorate Fire Safety and Civil Protection, local authorities and forestry services during a series of major forest fires in Blagoevgrad Region.

Todor Grozdanov
Secretary of the National Association of Volunteers in the Republic of Bulgaria and a member of a volunteer formation at Sofia Municipality. In 2025, he made a significant contribution to organising trainings, lectures and practical sessions related to correct behaviour and response during disasters, fires, floods and other emergencies.