The Directorate for Protection and Rescue (DZS) will have at least 120 volunteer firefighters this summer who will be prepared for emergency engagement in open-air fires, announced Director Stojanche Angelov after a meeting with representatives of voluntary firefighting societies.
According to Angelov, it has been agreed that each voluntary firefighting society will determine in advance the number of its members who will be part of the SSO rapid response teams and will be able to be immediately sent to the field when a fire breaks out.
He explained that the Directorate is also introducing a new coordination model, with a simplified chain of command, where instead of communication going through local regional units, coordinators will be appointed who will directly organize the volunteers.
"If a major fire breaks out, I will be able to immediately contact the person in charge who will mobilize the necessary volunteers and send them to the scene of the intervention. This way we will get a much faster response and more efficient organization," Angelov noted.
The Director of the State Fire Service emphasized that the goal is to minimize the involvement of the Army and police in firefighting this summer, and for the main burden to be borne by trained volunteer firefighters.
"Most of them have experience from numerous interventions and are ready to help. Of course, if fires occur that threaten the lives and property of citizens, all available capacities of the state will be engaged, including the Army and the police," said Angelov, pointing out that the fires in the vicinity of Thessaloniki are a warning of how quickly the situation can get out of control.
He also addressed the public reactions surrounding the volunteer logs, clarifying that he had previously referred to members of the SSO's rapid response teams, not all volunteer firefighters.
"Volunteer firefighters currently do not receive compensation from the state. I apologize if my previous statement was misunderstood. I believe that their work should be valued and in the future, those who will be engaged in rapid response teams will receive daily allowances, the amount of which will depend on the conditions and length of the engagement," said Angelov.
According to Angelov, it has been agreed that each voluntary firefighting society will determine in advance the number of its members who will be part of the SSO rapid response teams and will be able to be immediately sent to the field when a fire breaks out.
He explained that the Directorate is also introducing a new coordination model, with a simplified chain of command, where instead of communication going through local regional units, coordinators will be appointed who will directly organize the volunteers.
"If a major fire breaks out, I will be able to immediately contact the person in charge who will mobilize the necessary volunteers and send them to the scene of the intervention. This way we will get a much faster response and more efficient organization," Angelov noted.
The Director of the State Fire Service emphasized that the goal is to minimize the involvement of the Army and police in firefighting this summer, and for the main burden to be borne by trained volunteer firefighters.
"Most of them have experience from numerous interventions and are ready to help. Of course, if fires occur that threaten the lives and property of citizens, all available capacities of the state will be engaged, including the Army and the police," said Angelov, pointing out that the fires in the vicinity of Thessaloniki are a warning of how quickly the situation can get out of control.
He also addressed the public reactions surrounding the volunteer logs, clarifying that he had previously referred to members of the SSO's rapid response teams, not all volunteer firefighters.
"Volunteer firefighters currently do not receive compensation from the state. I apologize if my previous statement was misunderstood. I believe that their work should be valued and in the future, those who will be engaged in rapid response teams will receive daily allowances, the amount of which will depend on the conditions and length of the engagement," said Angelov.
