The stories from the field and the exchange of experiences continue with increasing intensity

Part of the representatives of the volunteer and professional firefighters from the southeast of R.N Macedonia and the Southwestern of R. Bulgaria, on October 13 and 14, 2022, attended the second specialized training in Bansko, Republic of Bulgaria, which is one of six two-day specialized trainings planned as part of the activities of the project “Cross-Border Cooperation in Forest Fire Fighting”.

The first aid as a crucial moment in accidents is the topic that aroused the greatest interest on the participants who followed closely and attentively to renew their knowledge, but also to learn many new ones. The training was conducted by paramedic Mr. Vladimir Filkov, a member of the voluntary firefighting society from Blagoevgrad.


The firefighters spent the second day in the field with practical exercises and examples from the second thematic unit, which was conducted by Mr. Plamen Todorov, an inspector from the National Association of Volunteers in the Republic of Bulgaria. Firefighters and volunteers had the opportunity to work with the equipment which the territorial firefighting unit of Bansko works and disposes. The stories from the field and the exchange of experiences continue this time with increased intensity and interest from the participants in the training.


The trainings are part of the implementation of the project for “Cross-Border Cooperation in Forest Fire Fighting” financed by the European Union through the Interreg IPA Program for cross-border cooperation between R. Bulgaria and R. North Macedonia 2014-2020, a project that the Centre for the Development of the South-East Planning Region is implementing in partnership with the Association of Southwestern Municipalities, Blagovegrad, Republic of Bulgaria.

With new experiences and good practices from the field, the firefighters completed the first specialized training

On September 29 and 30, 2022, in Bansko, Bulgaria, the firefighters and volunteers passed the first specialized training as part of the activities of the project “Cross-Border Cooperation in Forest Fire Fighting”. Around sixty participants from N. Macedonia and Bulgaria were part of the training which aim was enriching and expanding knowledge in dealing with forest fires.

The training and practical exercises were moderated and conducted by Mrs. Ralitsa Todorova, a certified trainer from the National Association of Volunteers in the Republic of Bulgaria and the Main Directorate for Fire Safety and Population Protection. Volunteers and professionals sat together at the table in order to share old, but also learn new knowledge and experiences from their colleagues. With the mutual exchange of “stories from the field” and through theoretical examples and analyses, as well as a demonstration in the field at the fire station in Bansko, the two days of the first module, which are just an announcement and the beginning of the upcoming specialized trainings, passed successfully. Six two-day trainings are planned to be realized, 3 of them will be held in the Republic of Bulgaria and 3 in the Republic of North Macedonia.

The trainings are part of the implementation of the project for “Cross-Border Cooperation in Forest Fire Fighting” financed by the European Union through the Interreg IPA Programme between Republic of Bulgaria and Republic of North Macedonia 2014-2020, a project that the Center for the Development of the South-East Planning Region is implementing in partnership with the Association of South Western Municipalities, Blagovegrad, Republic of Bulgaria.

112 firefighters from the region dressed their personal protective equipment for extinguishing forest fires

On the day of the firefighters, May 20, Centre for Development of the South-East Planning Region took part in the event and contributes this year. The celebration of the firefighters’ day this year will be remembered by the firefighters from the South-East for a long time in their memories. 112 firefighters from the region today for the first time wore their personal protective equipment for extinguishing forest fires, which includes a protective suit (pants and jacket), boots, gloves, helmet (with goggles and lantern), masks with filters and mask – balaclava .

On the faces of the firefighters, the satisfaction was visible. They pointed out that in their work as firefighters for the first time they receive personal protective equipment that is of such quality and with which they can get closer to the standards of European firefighters. Acknowledgement for successful cooperation and support of the Centre for Development of the South-East Planning Region was awarded by TFFU Strumica.

The Centre for Development of the South-East Planning Region provided personal protective equipment for extinguishing forest fires to 50 firefighters from the municipality of Strumica, 27 firefighters from the municipality of Gevgelija, 22 firefighters from the municipality of Radovish and 13 firefighters from the municipality of Valandovo. For the day of the firefighters, the director of the Centre Ms. Zhulieta Gjurkova, together with the mayors of the municipalities of Strumica, Gevgelija, Radovish and Valandovo signed a protocol for handing over the equipment and wished them to use their suits as little as possible, but in case of need to extinguish forest fires, they are fully equipped to intervene in the field.

The next step that will raise them on the ladder to achieve European readiness in firefighting will be the training conducted by internationally certified trainers, which is expected to begin in early autumn after reducing the fire risk season.

The implemented and provided activities are part of the implementation of the project for “Cross-Border Cooperation in Forest Fire Fighting” funded by EU through the Interreg-IPA CBC Republic of Bulgaria – Republic of North Macedonia Programme.

 

 

 

Signed contract for Procurement of fire-fighting protection equipment

Centre for Development of the South-East planning region within the project “Cross-Border Cooperation in Forest Fire Fighting” CB006.2.12.122, acting as a project partner, due to announced tender for Procurement of fire-fighting equipment and conducting of the evaluation procedure, successfully signed a contract with one of the bidders on the public call for LOT 1 – Fire-fighting gear and personal protective equipment and clothing. The company “Fores DOOEL Skopje” North Macedonia in the next period will supply firefighters with new personal protective firefighting equipment for extinguishing forest fires.

A two-day workshop held in the frame of the project “Cross-Border Cooperation in Forest Fire Fighting”

The Centre for development of the South-East planning Region in the frame of the project “Cross-Border Cooperation in Forest Fire Fighting”, on 26th and 27th of November 2021, organized a two-day workshop to establish an informal network between stakeholders from the two cross border regions in order to create good coordination and structure for prevention and adequate response to natural and environmental hazards, with special emphasis and focus on forest fires.

Besides representatives from the Centre, as organizers of the event, the workshop was attended by representatives of the Project Lead Partner – Association of Southwestern Municipalities, Blagoevgrad – Republic of Bulgaria, representatives of municipalities, municipal territorial firefighting units and volunteer associations from both countries, representatives of regional Crisis Management Centres, representatives of the regional offices of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue, as well as all stakeholders in preventing and mitigating the consequences of natural disasters, environmental hazards and human factor caused disasters.

The workshop was successfully conducted and all participants contributed with their presentations and discussions. As part of the workshop, a framework for the functioning of the informal network was prepared, as well as a draft Memorandum of Cooperation which will be sent to all participants and stakeholders for additional comments and finalization before it is finally signed at the Final Conference of the project.

“Creating good coordination and structure for prevention of the forest fires, but also timely response is essential in implementing this partnership. This is what makes our job easier, quick contacts and efficient data collection. They provide us with their information, we give our data regarding the type of the burning material, the surface, the weather conditions in our country, the weather conditions in their country so that a joint action could be implemented”, said Mr. Mitko Dimchev – Inspector in the Directorate for protection and rescue (regional unit Strumica).

The network is informal and in the future will serve as a basis for better coordination between the competent structures in both countries. Although the Republic of North Macedonia and the Republic of Bulgaria already have several international agreements in the field of civil protection, this network will facilitate cooperation primarily between local and regional institutions.

“The establishment of this network will in big extent facilitate the communication between the colleagues from our country and the Republic of Bulgaria for joint and coordinated performance on the field”, said Alexander Gudev – Commander of Territorial Firefighting Unit Strumica.

The participants in the workshop shared many positive experiences that should guide the institutions in the future, but also shared real problems that need to be addressed together.

This project is co-funded by the European Union and by National Funds of the Participating Countries under the IPA Cross – Border Programme

First press conference held within the project “Cross-Border Cooperation in Forest Fire Fighting”

The Centre for Development of the South-East Planning Region, within the project “Cross-Border Cooperation in Forest Fire Fighting” on September 24, 2021, at Hotel Sirius, Strumica held a press conference where representatives of the media from the region were invited. The project team together with the Director of the Centre, Ms. Zhulieta Gjurkova, and a representative of the Territorial Firefighting Unit (TPPE), Strumica, presented the activities and expected results to better inform the public what is the purpose of the project and what benefits are expected from it.
Through this project, 112 firefighters from the South-East Planning Region will receive specialized personal protective equipment for forest fires. As a result of the analysis, it is realized that no firefighting unit in this region has suits for firefighters intended for forest fires.

“Our goal and our idea are to be side by side with all European firefighters, to have the complete equipment to be able to respond to disasters. “They are capable, they have all the skills necessary, they are trained, but they need to have the appropriate equipment and be properly dressed to be effective in such situations.” – said the Director of the Centre for Development of the South-East Planning Region, Ms. Gjurkova.

For firefighters, the procurement of new equipment is very important because it will provide much greater efficiency during forest interventions, and at the same time will increase their safety, said Mr. Risto Janakiev – representative of TPPE Strumica, and added that with the equipment they will significantly approach the standards of the European Union.

At the press conference, through a short presentation by the project team, the journalists were informed about the other activities planned within this project, the establishment of a cross-border network for prevention and response to natural and environmental hazards arising from forest fires, organization of six specialized trainings for the representatives of the territorial firefighting units and volunteer associations with internationally certified trainers, promotion and raising of public awareness for encouraging volunteerism in firefighting as well as prevention of forest fires.

The project is scheduled to last 24 months.

First meeting of the team on the project “Cross-Border Cooperation in Forest Fire Fighting” held in Blagoevgrad, Republic of Bulgaria

In the frame of the project “Cross-border Cooperation in Forest Fire Fighting” funded by the European Union through the Interreg IPA CBC Program between the Republic of Bulgaria and Republic of North Macedonia on 30.08.2021 and 31.08.2021, in Blagoevgrad at the premises of the Lead Partner – Association of Southwestern Municipalities, Republic of Bulgaria, the first meeting of the project team was held.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the project activities, what has been implemented until now and what are the next steps of implementation of each of the partners.

Following the obligations for the Request for First Level Control, the two partners jointly submitted the requests in coordination within the deadline. On the meeting, the team reviewed and discussed the Project Progress Report 2 (PP2), which was submitted to the Beneficiary Portal for the previous project period.
The team also discussed for the maintenance of the first press-conferences within the project, as well as the first workshop for the establishment of a cross-border network for prevention and response in case of natural and environmental hazards. According to the active measures at that time for COVID-19.

The project is co-funded by the European Union and the National Funds of the participating countries through the Interreg IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Program between the Republic of Bulgaria – Republic of North Macedonia 2014-2020.