During the innovative youth camp “Change Begins with Me,” organized in the town of Chepelare, the Director of the General Directorate “Fire Safety and Civil Protection” (GDFSCP) at the Ministry of Interior, Chief Commissioner Alexander Dzhartov, conducted an inspiring and extremely useful discussion with participants from the “Youth Guard Units” Association. The meeting focused on fire safety, behavior during forest fires, and the role of the BG-ALERT system in protecting the population.
At the beginning of the conversation, Mr. Jartov emphasized that a large part of forest fires result from human error—negligence, lighting fires in inappropriate conditions such as strong winds and high temperatures, unattended campfires, and more. He explained to the youths the main components needed for a fire to start—presence of oxygen, fuel, and an ignition source—and how we can interrupt this process through responsible behavior.
The Director of the General Directorate Fire Safety and Protection of the Population acquainted the boys and girls with important fire prevention rules. Mr. Djartov noted that although the grass may appear green, it is flammable during this season, and in the event of large fires, it is crucial not to act independently if we are not trained and dressed in protective clothing. “In such cases, it is better to seek a safe place, such as land that has already burned, where the fire cannot spread back,” he added.
In addition to providing good advice on fire safety, Aleksandar Djartov offered an interesting and personal perspective on the daily life of firefighters, creating a sense of closeness between him and the group. He shared that he doesn’t wear his firefighter boots all the time, only when necessary, which brought smiles to the youths but also respect for the challenges and difficulties of the profession.
The camp guest explained the function of the modules being created, as well as Bulgaria’s participation in international rescue operations within the European Union. An example was given of Bulgarian firefighters being sent to Turkey and Greece during major disasters.
A significant portion of the discussion was dedicated to the BG-ALERT system, designed for early warning during disasters and emergencies. The youths learned that each message is received within minutes of being sent, with the major challenge being the acquisition of reliable information that an event posing a threat to citizens has occurred, is occurring, or is expected to occur. Tests have shown that the fastest way to reach the largest number of people is indeed through BG-ALERT. Another interesting fact was that, except for messages of the highest danger level, the system allows users to deactivate and activate message reception through their device settings.
The inspiring meeting concluded with a candid discussion about the responsibility of every citizen, young or old, and how they can contribute to the safety of the community. The camp “Change Begins with Me” provided young people the opportunity to hear firsthand what it means to be a firefighter, the daily risks involved, and the importance of conscious behavior in nature.
Mr. Djartov thanked the students for their questions, curiosity, and engagement, encouraging them to be ambassadors of safety and responsibility in their communities.
The event is part of the project “Youth of Bulgaria – Opportunities for Creative Development,” implemented by the Association “Youth Guard Squads,” with financial support from the Erasmus+ Program, project No. 2024-3-BG01-KA154-YOU-000288013. The main goal of the initiative is to promote the personal and creative development of young people through innovative approaches, non-formal education, active teamwork, and inspiring meetings with figures from public, cultural, and sports life.
