site.btaPrevention Is Key to Fire Safety, Says Interior Minister

Interior Minister Daniel Mitov Thursday said that in fighting fires, Bulgaria can rely on the solidarity of its neighbors and other EU Member States, but prevention is key. Mitov spoke to journalists in Kazanlak at the opening of the Innovation Days for Protecting Nature from Fires project. The event was organized by the University of Forestry and Kazanlak Municipality as part of the Innovative Technologies and Socio-ecological-economic Solutions for Fire Resilient Territories in Europe (FIRE-RES) project under the EU's Horizon 2020 programme.

According to the Interior Minister, the Fire Safety and Population Protection Directorate General is prepared for the upcoming fire hazard season.

"Demonstrating readiness is essential, but at the European level, there are growing discussions about stronger integration between EU countries when it comes to the safety of citizens and the fight against fires, especially forest fires," Mitov said. He stressed that public awareness of the need to handle flammable materials with extreme care should be raised continuously, people should avoid burning stubble, and should follow fire safety rules.

"The Bulgarian forest is a treasure that must be protected," he stressed. "We know where the high-risk areas are, and I would really like to see a good campaign on social media as soon as possible - one that warns people about how to handle fire, what the risks are, and how to protect not only the forest but also everyone's property."