Firefighters in Haskovo region have received new specialist vehicles, equipment and protective clothing under two projects, the Haskovo regional police directorate (ODMVR) press office said.

The Haskovo regional fire safety and civil protection directorate is running a project to get the region ready to prevent and fight disasters, fires and emergencies. It costs €211,398 in total, is paid for by the Human Resources Development Programme 2021-2027 and runs until September 2027.

Under the project, the directorate is supplying fire and rescue equipment and protective gear. It also plans training, practical drills and an upgrade of the training base for staff and volunteers. Volunteer units from seven municipalities are taking part: Mineralni Bani, Stambolovo, Harmanli, Madzharovo, Lyubimets, Ivaylovgrad and Topolovgrad.

The region already has drones and several kinds of equipment for backfires. The Chief Directorate for Fire Safety and Civil Protection gave the region three fire engines and a bulldozer for cutting firebreaks.

In October, firefighters received six pumps that handle solids for draining and water supply, 13 mobile computers for training and 10 chainsaws for crisis response and firefighting.

Separately, the Haskovo directorate received 137 sets of heat-protective clothing for fighting forest fires, paid for under the Environment Programme.

Classroom training is coming on how to use the specialist equipment, firefighting tactics, forest fire response and joint work by the services of the Integrated Rescue System. Practical drills will follow in conditions close to a real emergency.

Last week it also emerged that a public tender is due for energy upgrades of three police buildings in the region. The project has been approved under the Regional Development Programme 2021-2027 and will get €3,046,000 under the call for pilot projects on energy communities and lower energy use in public buildings.