The volunteers and representatives of the rescue services in Burgas are experiencing an exceptionally difficult year. It turns out that the large fires in the municipality have tripled in just one year. While in 2024 there were 5, this year firefighters and volunteers worked side by side in extinguishing 16 large fires.
Earlier today, a special ceremony at the “Flora” exhibition center marked International Volunteer Day.
“You are a special breed of people. People who are not often encountered because you carry within yourselves the most important human values - kindness, self-sacrifice, and a desire to help,” said Vesna Baltina - Deputy Mayor “Strategic Development and Ecology, Digitalization and Adaptation to Climate Change” of Burgas Municipality in her welcome address.
Congratulatory addresses were received by dozens of volunteers who participated in various rescue operations this year. They helped not only during fires, but also during the large floods that caused serious damage this year. Awards were also given to Vasil Aleksiev and Nikolay Dimitrov, who are actively involved in training water rescuers.
At today's ceremony, the Burgas emergency phone team 112 was also honored. Violeta Radeva, Nikolina Yankova and Tatyana Minkova from the Bulgarian Red Cross, mayors of settlements, agricultural producers who assisted with equipment in controlling the fires.
Burgas has good traditions in volunteering and a voluntary formation, which is open to the Municipality. Currently, it has 50 volunteers, and the local administration creates the necessary opportunities and provides equipment for their safe work. This year they received new summer uniforms, as well as a mobile fire pump.
During the ceremony, members of the newest volunteer structure in the city - “Rescue Club for the Future-Burgas” - were also honored.