Kosovo firefighters unite across ethnic lines

Dejan Jeriniq, a 41‑year‑old Serb firefighter, has spent 18 years battling fires in the Viti‑Kllokot area of Kosovo alongside predominantly Albanian colleagues. He says he "doesn't look at people by ethnicity" and stresses that the brigade, which includes only two Serb firefighters out of 37, treats all citizens equally.

Deputy commander Sabri Abazi of the South Mitrovica professional fire‑rescue unit explains that the southern and northern teams coordinate through the 112 emergency centre, responding promptly to alarms in any municipality. Both units regularly assist each other, regardless of the community they serve, emphasizing professional cooperation over ethnic division.