Spartan aircraft joins firefighting efforts in the country

20.07.2026 | Bulgaria

Minister of Interior Ivan Demerdzhiev announced that a Spartan aircraft will assist in aerial firefighting. Learn about the new fire safety measures.

Снимка от Armando Olivo Martín del Campo, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

New capabilities for aerial firefighting

This year, for the first time, a Spartan aircraft equipped with an aerial firefighting system is joining the battle against wildfires. This was announced by Minister of Interior Ivan Demerdzhiev during the celebration of the professional holiday of Bulgarian firefighters.

"Your professionalism has been demonstrated many times in the international missions in which you participate," the minister emphasized to the employees of the General Directorate for Fire Safety and Civil Protection.

Technical provision and training

Despite the improved readiness of the helicopters, the minister acknowledged existing deficits in the system. Key steps taken during the year include:

Focus on prevention

According to Demerdzhiev, the main efforts must be directed towards prevention, which requires significant technical upgrades. The professionalism of the employees often compensates for the lack of sufficient resources, but the goal is higher efficiency with each passing year.