About 80 firefighters and volunteers from across Burgas region today fought a mock forest fire in the pine grove in the Meden Rudnik neighbourhood.

In the scenario, the fire spreads fast and threatens nearby apartment blocks. Professionals and volunteers worked together to contain the mock fire front and bring it under control. They also practised how crews work together in a crisis.

The drill used five fire engines, one firefighting module, a bulldozer, drones bought specially for the project, and other support equipment. With this gear, crews practised different ways to contain and put out forest fires, and how to act in other emergencies.

The exercise aims to improve teamwork between professional firefighters and volunteer units in disasters and emergencies, and to make them readier to act together.

Chief commissioner Nikolay Nikolaev, director of the regional directorate, says such drills strengthen ties between the services and volunteers. He says they help the services prepare better to protect people in Burgas region.

"Training like this is an important part of preparing to respond well to forest fires, disasters and other emergencies, especially when fire threatens inhabited areas," said Nikolaev, director of the Burgas Regional Directorate for Fire Safety and Civil Protection.