In Drohobych, a volunteer fire brigade has been ceremonially launched at the Roman Catholic Church of St Bartholomew. The new unit is intended to strengthen the community’s safety system and promote the development of the volunteer firefighting movement.
The opening began with a joint prayer. The clergy blessed the fire engines and the specialist equipment that volunteers will use when responding to emergencies.
During the event, the line-up of the newly formed team was presented, its main tasks were outlined, and demonstrations were given of the capabilities of the machinery and equipment that will be used on call-outs.
The opening was attended by representatives of the city council, including the First Deputy Mayor Roman Beizyk, rescuers, clergy, volunteers and others involved in implementing the initiative. For his active civic stance and contribution to setting up the team, Roman Beizyk presented a letter of thanks to Father Myroslav Lech.
The Head of the Main Department of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Lviv Region, Liubomyr Pasichnyk, thanked everyone involved in organising the volunteer brigade and noted the readiness of its members to serve the community and help people in difficult situations.
“The safety of the community is a shared responsibility. Today we see an example of how, by uniting the efforts of the authorities, rescuers, clergy and concerned residents, it is possible to create new opportunities to protect people. I thank everyone who contributed to the creation of this team, and especially the volunteers who are ready to come to the rescue when needed” — Roman Beizyk
As noted by the State Emergency Service, volunteers will now be able to respond promptly to call-outs in Drohobych, supporting professional rescuers in extinguishing fires and dealing with other emergencies.
The city council emphasises that establishing a volunteer fire brigade is not only about providing additional machinery and resources, but also a sign of responsibility and social engagement on the part of residents who are willing to act for the safety of the community.