More Than 100 Small Communities Strengthen Their Fire Response Preparedness

The National Association of Volunteers in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAVRB) is establishing fire response depots, providing equipment and training local communities with the support of The Coca-Cola HBC Foundation

At the peak of summer and during the peak fire-risk season, the National Association of Volunteers in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAVRB) is implementing a large-scale initiative to strengthen fire response preparedness in more than 100 smaller communities across the country. The project covers towns and villages in the regions of Blagoevgrad, Sofia City and Sofia Province, Haskovo, Lovech and Pazardzhik, with a focus on prevention, preparedness and the ability of local communities to take appropriate initial action in the event of a fire. The initiative is supported by The Coca-Cola HBC Foundation and forms part of the partnership between the Foundation and NAVRB to strengthen the resilience and disaster preparedness of local communities.

As part of the project, fire response depots are being established in smaller communities and equipped with the essential resources needed by local firefighting teams. At the same time, informational materials are being distributed to local residents, providing practical guidance on fire risk prevention and on coordinating the actions of spontaneous volunteers when an emergency arises.

Particular emphasis is also being placed on training those who play a key role in the first minutes after a fire breaks out. NAVRB is providing training for local mayors and representatives of local administrations on initial response measures and coordination during wildfires.

“When a fire breaks out, volunteers are often among the first on the scene and play a vital role in protecting people, homes and nature. But our work does not begin and end with responding to the incident itself. Investing in prevention, preparedness and knowledge is the most effective way to protect people and communities. This is why it is particularly important for us to reach smaller towns and villages, where good organization and available equipment can be decisive in the first minutes of a fire,” said Dr. Yasen Tsvetkov, Head of the Management Board of the National Association of Volunteers in the Republic of Bulgaria.

The initiative is funded through a donation of more than 100,000 euros provided by The Coca-Cola HBC Foundation to NAVRB in 2025 to support the fight against wildfires in Bulgaria. The funding is being used to provide off-road firefighting vehicles, specialized equipment and tools for field operations, establish fire response depots, and carry out public awareness initiatives to improve disaster preparedness among local communities.

“For us, the true value of a partnership is measured by the long-term impact it has on communities. That is why, together with NAVRB, we are focusing our efforts not only on providing the necessary firefighting equipment, but also on prevention and community preparedness. We believe that when local communities have knowledge, organization and appropriate resources, they are much better prepared to respond during those critical first minutes. This is the sustainable impact we aim to achieve through our support,” said Lilia Velinova, Customer and Community Partnerships Manager at Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria.

The partnership between NAVRB and Coca-Cola HBC also continues through initiatives designed to build practical emergency response skills. Earlier this year, NAVRB experts and rescue professionals conducted specialized training sessions for Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria employees, covering disaster and emergency response, how to prepare an emergency evacuation backpack, and how to provide first aid.