site.btaBulgaria Better Prepared to Respond to Emergencies with New Firefighting Equipment, Says Fire Service Chief

Bulgaria is now undoubtedly better prepared to respond to emergencies, Chief Commissioner Alexander Dzhartov, Director of the General Directorate for Fire Safety and Civil Protection, said during the presentation of newly delivered equipment for firefighters and volunteer response units here on Monday.

The equipment has been procured under a project financed through the Human Resources Development Programme 2021–2027, co-funded by the European Union. It includes drones, chainsaws, backpack sprayers, fire beaters, shovels and other tools.

"We are reviewing the implementation of one of our best projects today, while the Directorate is currently working on 50 projects," Dzhartov said. He thanked everyone involved in the initiative and praised the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy for its prompt assessment of the project proposals, which has made it possible to begin equipment deliveries. More than 30% of the project has already been implemented within just a few months, he added.

Yasen Tsvetkov, head of the National Association of Volunteers in Bulgaria, said the event highlighted the tremendous efforts of dozens of people working across various branches of the public administration.

"The equipment delivered is the result of an unprecedented joint effort by firefighters, volunteers, public administration and municipalities. This is the only sustainable model that will allow us to adapt to the challenges we face and provide an adequate response, as natural disasters and emergencies are becoming increasingly severe," Tsvetkov said.

Under the projects currently being implemented by the Directorate, modern equipment worth more than EUR 7 million will be purchased. The projects also include training programmes, international exchanges of experience, renovation of fire service facilities and campaigns to recruit volunteers.

The equipment to be acquired includes 29 unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), more than 100 communications devices, over 160 chainsaws, more than 470 lighting units and over 560 handheld firefighting tools. The equipment presented on Monday accounts for nearly one-third of all items to be delivered under the projects, with the remaining deliveries scheduled for a later stage.

The planned training programmes focus on wildfire prevention, operation of unmanned aerial vehicles and other specialised skills. More than 130 firefighters and volunteers have already completed training, while 19 firefighters have taken part in an exchange programme in Romania. Additional training sessions are planned.

Two volunteer recruitment campaigns have been carried out in the municipalities of Aytos and Primorsko. Alongside strengthening disaster response capacity, the Directorate is placing a strong emphasis on prevention and raising public awareness. More than 2,000 citizens have received training on responding to wildfires, while nearly 5,400 people have been introduced to the work of volunteer emergency response units.

Among those attending the ceremony were Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev, Labour and Social Policy Minister Nataliya Efremova, National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria Chair Silvia Georgieva, firefighters, volunteers and search-and-rescue dogs trained to locate disaster victims.