600 smoke detectors will protect adults and lonely people in Northwestern Bulgaria from fire

The devices are provided under the RESPONSE project, funded with over €7.2 million from the Interreg VI-A IPA Bulgaria-Serbia Programme 2021-2027

600 smoke detectors are installed free of charge in a number of households in northwestern Bulgaria as a measure to combat and prevent domestic fires. The facilities are provided under the RESPONSE project, funded with over EUR 7.2 million under the Interreg VI-A IPA Bulgaria-Serbia 2021-2027 programme managed by the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works. The project is strategic for the two neighbouring countries, including a number of activities and measures aimed at combating natural disasters and protecting citizens. The measure to provide smoke detectors is aimed at elderly and lonely people, and the goal is to make their homes safer. They are the most vulnerable group because they face challenges such as reduced mobility, slower reaction times, hearing or vision difficulties, making reaction to a fire more difficult and evacuation risky. The first 150 detectors have already been installed in the municipalities of Brusartsi and Varshets. By the beginning of May, 120 more devices will be installed in the municipalities of Dolna Banya, Kostenets, Tran and Pernik, 110 in the municipality of Kostinbrod and 100 in Ruzhintsi, and the remaining 120 will be distributed to vulnerable citizens from other settlements in the border region. In addition to installing and checking the systems, users are introduced to their work through specially developed information brochures. They also receive practical advice on how to make their home safer, how to respond to a fire and what are the most common risks in everyday life.

The detectors are provided by the National Association of Volunteers in the Republic of Bulgaria, a project partner. Installation is carried out by representatives of the organization and by voluntary formations to municipalities.

Smoke detectors will also be placed in the Serbian part of the cross-border region of the programme, which covers the areas of Borski, Zajecarski, Pirotski, Nisavski, Toplichki, Jablanichki and Pčinski District.

Domestic fires are among the causes of human casualties every year, especially during the winter season, due to solid fuel heating or accidents in electrical installations and appliances.

The aim of the measure is to improve prevention and to notify the relevant authorities as soon as possible when a fire is detected.

The lead partner of the project is the General Directorate for Fire Safety and Civil Protection of the Ministry of Interior in partnership with the Emergency Management Sector of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia. Partner is the Faculty of Fire Safety and Civil Protection at the Academy of the Ministry of Interior of Bulgaria.

The project aims to provide the necessary education and preparation for actions of the population and volunteers, as well as a proper and timely response of professional teams to disasters in the cross-border region, using various methods of capacity improvement. It covers 6100 people who are trained in disaster response and emergency situations in the border settlements of Bulgaria and Serbia. In addition to training, the project provides for the renovation of a training center, the supply of special purpose vehicles, the purchase of equipment for rescue activities, the coordination of joint action plans, etc.