According to various estimates, the damage caused by fire in the world makes up about 1% of gross production. Scientific observations state that this figure in Ukraine is even higher – 3-4%

In support of a quality safety assurance in amalgamated hromadas, the U-LEAD with Europe Programme organised a training in Lviv on “Public order and safety” for the trainers who will subsequently help AHs to implement these functions.

Wiesław Bogdan Leśniakiewicz, ex-head of the Polish State Fire Service, tells that a sense of safety is a major factor affecting the choice of place of residence, human activity, and, as a result, the socio-economic standard of living.

Contrary to the traditional idea of firefighters, the fire protection service in neighbouring Poland is also carried by women. And, in general, a voluntary fire brigade is not only a unit to extinguish the fire, but a modern centre with a hromada life arranged around. Often, such centres have large assembly halls to host mass events, concerts, theatrical performances and even wedding ceremonies. Almost every Polish safety centre has a brass band.

The modern building is not a luxury but a necessity, says Krzysztof Biskup, retired colonel, and Vice-President of the European Fire Safety Alliance: “Very often such a centre works as a mini-hotel, since here you can arrange a temporary shelter for the victims, until they get help from social services or solve their housing problems.

The international standards define the Golden Hour principle. In accordance with this principle, there are quite high chances to save the life of an injured person, if he\she gets to the operating table within an hour after receiving the injuries.

In order to comply with this standard, the fire brigade must arrive at the place of fire in 20 minutes.

The Buhrynska AH of the Rivne Oblast is a participant of the U-LEAD with Europe Programme’s “Creation of Effective Civil Protection System in Amalgamated Hromadas” project. Serhii Pylypchuk, head of the AH, said that their hromada with a population of 4.5 thousand people effectively cooperates with Polish colleagues and has already received significant material and technical assistance: the uniform, shoes, protective helmets, special bags with a complete set of hemostatic and burn treating materials, as well as motor pumps. In addition to material assistance, the project also included study visits to Poland and trainings in Rivne and Yavoriv training ground in the Lviv Oblast.

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