On 21 May, a new facility strengthening the forest fire prevention and response network in the environmentally valuable Carpathian areas along the Polish–Ukrainian border was officially opened – the new building of the Regional Headquarters of the State Fire Service in Brzozów (Podkarpackie Region, Poland).
With the support of the Programme, a modern vehicle and technical facility was constructed, including storage and workshop areas adapted for the operation and maintenance of heavy firefighting and rescue vehicles. The new infrastructure will serve not only during emergency response operations but also for training activities and coordination of firefighting efforts.
The investment was made possible, among others, through the Large Infrastructure Project UP2FireSafety, implemented by fire services from the Podkarpackie Voivodeship and four Ukrainian oblasts: Ivano-Frankivsk, Zakarpattya, Lviv and Ternopil.
The project includes:
- integration of firefighting infrastructure into a single forest fire management network;
- equipping rescue services with 14 specialised firefighting vehicles;
- implementation of a modern monitoring system based on Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, enabling the collection, analysis and map-based presentation of fire risk data, thus improving operational planning and coordination of emergency response activities;
- development of joint operational procedures;
- joint training sessions and exercises for Polish and Ukrainian firefighters;
- implementation of the educational campaign “Let’s Save Biodiversity”, promoting nature conservation and environmentally responsible behaviour.
The total value of the project is nearly EUR 6 million.
The opening ceremony in Brzozów was combined with the presentation of a ceremonial banner to the Regional Headquarters and the Regional Firefighters’ Day celebrations.
In parallel with the investment in Brzozów, the Ukrainian partners are implementing activities related to the establishment of Regional Crisis Management Centres in the Ivano-Frankivsk and Zakarpattya oblasts. These centres will support risk monitoring, information exchange and coordination of rescue operations on both sides of the border.
The new infrastructure in Brzozów will become one of the key elements of this network on the Polish side, serving not only to enhance the safety of the region but also to facilitate joint training activities and cooperation with Ukrainian partners.
We will continue to share updates on the project’s achievements implemented by the Ukrainian partners on our website.
