site.btaDelivery of 385 Specialized Fire-Fighting Vehicles Envisaged under Project from Environment Programme

The delivery of 385 specialized vehicles for fire-fighting and operational activities is planned under a project from the 2021-2027 Environment programme. The supply of  67 mobile systems for extinguishing forest fires is also envisaged, as well as 6,000 personal protective equipment and additional modern equipment. More than 26,000 people across the country will be trained through forest fire prevention and response exercises. The total amount of funding for the project is BGN 169,964,169. The contract for its implementation was signed on Friday at the Ministry of Environment and Water. The Academy of the Ministry of Interior is a partner in the implementation of the project.

Reducing the risk of forest fires and damage to the population are the main goal the project, stated Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov. Other objectives are the protection of natural resources and preventative behavior in the population. The project; s horizon is 60 months, the Minister noted.

Fire Safety and Protection of the Population Director  Alexander Dzhartov  said that the project will provide better equipment to  employees, such as a large number of fire trucks. All public procurements have been announced and are at the evaluation stage, and this stage should be completed before the end of April, he said in response to a question from BTA when the delivery of the fire trucks is expected.

This is a equipment that will not only be available to Bulgaria, but it will also be able to help neighboring countries, commented Minister of Environment and Water Julian Popov. He welcomed the implementation of the project against the background of the serious problem of forest fires, which he expects to worsen in connection with climate change and droughts.

“Society must realize that forests are an important part of the environment,” argued Galina Stoyanova, head of the Environment OP General Directorate. “In recent years, forests have been viewed more as a material wood resource, and they are actually the most important component of our environment," she commented.