Bulgaria opens cross-border firefighter training center in Pokrovnik

Bulgarian Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev has inaugurated a new training and preparation center for firefighters and rescuers in the village of Pokrovnik, Blagoevgrad region. The facility was developed under the Floodguard 2 project, an Interreg-funded initiative aimed at enhancing flood prevention and response capacities in the cross-border region between Bulgaria and Greece.

The center is equipped with specialized infrastructure, including two classrooms, a conference hall, a dispatch point, a garage for fire engines, and a 3D simulation system for flood response. It is designed to facilitate joint training and experience exchange between emergency services from Bulgaria, Greece, and Serbia.

During the opening, Demerdzhiev noted a significant decrease in forest fire incidents compared to the previous year, attributing the trend to improved detection methods, such as the use of drones, and better coordination. He also expressed the government's ambition to acquire a dedicated fleet of firefighting helicopters to reduce reliance on military assistance during emergencies.