Angellov: No Fire Can Be Extinguished Without Ground Personnel

Stojanče Angellov, director of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue and head of the Crisis Management Headquarters, announced that volunteer firefighters will receive institutional support. According to him, funds allocated through the budget revision will allow for their greater involvement during the summer months.

During an interview with Sitel television, he emphasized that these firefighters, who are already part of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue’s rapid response teams, will be institutionally organized and receive stronger support in the future.

“They go out into the field, face risks and often sacrifice their daily earnings. This is precisely why they deserve support that reflects their dedication,” Angellov said.

Regarding the fires, he highlighted the early weather forecasts provided by the Hydrometeorological Directorate, which he said help ensure more precise deployment of aerial assistance.

“Although aerial intervention plays a key role, no fire can be extinguished without people on the ground. For this reason, this summer we are focusing particularly on volunteers and rapid response groups,” he added.

Commenting on the recent critical incident in Gostivar, Angellov said that all emergency mechanisms were activated as soon as the legal requirements were met. According to him, a state of crisis was declared less than three hours after the procedures were initiated.

A number of institutions were involved in managing the situation, including the Ministry of Health, the Institute of Public Health, the Food and Veterinary Agency, the Crisis Management Center, the Directorate for Protection and Rescue, the City of Skopje, the public enterprise “Water Supply and Sewerage” – Skopje, as well as the local authorities in Gostivar, Angellov said.

Angellov also announced that residents were supplied with the necessary quantities of drinking water and water for technical use, while cooperation between state and local authorities remained constant.