The Centre for development of the South-East planning region started with the implementation of the project “Cross-Border cooperation in dealing with the forest fires” within the Programme for cross-border cooperation R. Bulgaria – R. North Macedonia 2014 – 2020. The Centre for development of the South-East planning region will implement the project with the Association of Southwestern Municipalities of Blagoevgrad, Republic of Bulgaria, as a Lead Partner in the implementation of the project.
Within the project, complete personal protective equipment for forest fires will be procured for all firefighters from the South-East planning region, which is currently not available to any of the firefighting units in the region. Professional forest fire equipment will be procured which includes overalls, blankets, boots, gloves, helmets made especially for forest fires, anti-smoke protective masks and balaclava fireproof protection masks. Pumps, firefighter hoses and motor saw will be procured for each of the brigades in the region. This equipment will significantly improve the safety and functionality of firefighters in the region, and also will improve their on time and appropriate response to forest fires that cause enormous damage, destroy our forest, nature and as is well known from the past, there have been human sacrifice.
In addition to the procurement of equipment, a cross-border network will be created for prevention and response to natural and environmental hazards, which will include representatives of municipal territorial firefighting units and volunteer communities from both countries whose goal is to create good coordination and structure for prevention and appropriate disaster response with special emphasis on forest fires. For some of the network members, a series of trainings (6 in total) by internationally certified is planned. An information and media campaign will be launched to promote volunteerism and prevent forest fires.
Total value of the project is 395.361 euros, out of which the budget of the Centre for development of the South-East planning region is 197.602 euros. The project will be implemented for 24 months.