site.btaUPDATED Prime Minister Zhelyazkov: Acquiring Firefighting Aircraft Takes at Least Three Years

The Bulgarian fire service will have sufficient airborne firefighting equipment, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov told journalists on Monday  after inspecting the measures taken by the Ministry of Interior's operational headquarters to tackle the fires in the Strumyani region. “Acquiring firefighting aircraft is a complex process and, in the best-case scenario, takes three years,” he noted.

“After I listened yesterday to the president’s comments regarding the acquisition of aircraft, I expect to soon receive an analysis from the Air Force command that will either confirm or refute the so-called analysis by the president’s administration from last year, which emphasized the need to acquire Spartan aircraft for specific reasons,” Zhelyazkov commented.

“If the analysis from the professional leadership of the Air Force confirms this hypothesis — and the feasibility of this option — then, of course, the state, which has the necessary resources and mechanisms, will move forward with the acquisition of such equipment,” the Prime Minister added. He also noted that last year’s report dismissed many of the currently used options.

“The aircraft we are expecting from Sweden tomorrow have a water-carrying capacity of three tons — the same as that of helicopters. So, the analysis should also include a comparative effectiveness assessment - aircraft vs. helicopters, or a combination of both,” Zhelyazkov said.

He also noted that Bulgarian teams are currently assisting in firefighting efforts in Greece. These teams will be recalled to Bulgaria if necessary, but for now, the current deployment of forces allows for effective organization and management of the fires using the resources of the Chief Directorate of Fire Safety and Civil Protection.

This year, the organization for dealing with fires is better than last year’s, said  Zhelyazkov after inspecting on site the measures taken by the Ministry of Interior’s operational headquarters for handling the fires in the Strumyani area. "I am not saying this as the head of the executive branch, but based on all objective criteria that assess the functioning of the fire prevention and response system," he added.

The Prime Minister thanked the firefighters, police officers, gendarmerie, Ministry of Defence personnel, forestry workers, and volunteers who have selflessly taken part in extinguishing the fires, which cost taxpayers hundreds of millions and, unfortunately, are mainly due to human negligence or intent. Rosen Zhelyazkov added that proof of the firefighters’ professionalism is the fact that no human lives have been lost - neither among the personnel nor among civilians.