VOLUNTARY FIREFIGHTING TEAM “MLAVA” ESTABLISHED IN KREPOLJIN

VOLUNTARY FIREFIGHTING TEAM “MLAVA” ESTABLISHED IN KREPOLJIN

As a part of the project “Firefighters and emergency management Recas-Zagubica” and nbased on the initiative of the citizens, a Voluntary firefighting team “Mlava” has been established in Krepoljin. In presence of 14 representatives of the citizens and local self-government, a founding assembly session has been held, at which, as per the provisions of the Law on associations and Law on voluntary firefighting, the Statute of association has been unanimously adopted and organs and bodies of VFT “Mlava” have been elected.

Statute of the association defines the Voluntary firefighting team “Mlava” to be independent, non-partisan, professional and humanitarian community organization in the sector of fire protection. Members of the Voluntary firefighting team have defined and established basic objectives of their future work, related to enhancing of firefighting and fire protection system, delivery of preventive measures aimed at averting occurrence of fires by visiting and monitoring of objects and public surfaces, professional improvement and education in the area of fire protection as per relevant Law, capacitating and equipping operational unit for delivery of fire protection tasks, and realization and delivery of activities of importance for protection of environment.

Founding assembly session of VFT “Mlava” was attended by Dr. Goran Djordjevic, head of the Emergency situations sector of Branicevski District, who stressed the importance of establishment of the Volutary firefighting team “Mlava” in Krepoljin being of exquisite significance for the sector of fire protection, as for this part of the Homolje area also for the municipality Zagubica itself and local communities in its imminent surroundings. Mr. Djordjevic stressed that establishment of the Voluntary firefighting team and forming of the operational firefighting unit, as per Law on voluntary firefighting, facilitate creation of the preconditions for more efficient acting in the sector of emergency situations, and especially in area of fire protection, when it comes to preventive, but also repressive acting. He also stated that upon acquisition of the equipment, firefighting operational unit with human resources will be prepared for adequate response in emergency situations.

Mr. Predrag Ivkovic, deputy President of the Municipality spoke of establishment of the Team and its significance for the local self-government and has stated that Municipality Zagubica invests great effort to create adequate conditions for more efficient acting in the sector of emergency situations and fire protection in Zagubica. Establishment of the Voluntary firefighting team is only one step among many the Municipality has taken with this objective. As Mr. Ivkovic stressed, Municipality has ensured funding for construction of the facility for the placement of equipment and vehicles, and has allocated funds for arrangement of the space for VFT “Mlava”, and the Project “Firefighters and emergency management Recas-Zagubica” and EU donation through Cross-border Cooperation Programme Romania-Serbia gives significant support to Municipality in realization of these tasks and objectives.

Main objective of the Project “Firefighters and emergency management Recas-Zagubica” is to improve conditions for emergency situation response in cross-border communities, strengthen local stakeholders and contribute to more efficient action in fire protection cases, which will altogether significantly contribute to decrease of the damages caused by fires. Activities implemented through this project will identify current situation related to potential risks, define emergency situation response and action strategy, and enhance information and knowledge of citizens in the area of environment protection. Project also envisions procurement of firefighting vehicles and equipment which will contribute to more efficient and faster response in cases of fires, as well as establishment of volunteer firefighting team.

Project “Firefighters and emergency management Recas-Zagubica” is being implemented within the Cross-border cooperation Programme Romania-Serbia financed by the European union, through the Instrument of Pre-accession assistance (IPA II). Implementation of the Project has begun in June 2017 and will last until the February 2019. Total budget of the Project amounts 1.414.018 euro, of which European union is financing 1.201.915,30 euro, and Municipalities Recas and Zagubica are co-financing the project with 212.102.70 euro.