The Protection and Rescue Service in Ulcinj received equipment worth 35 thousand euros

After a summer marked by numerous fires, each new investment in modern protection and rescue equipment represents an important step in strengthening the safety of citizens and property. As part of the implementation of the Fire free MED – FRE project, the Protection and Rescue Service in Ulcinj received a DJI Matrice 350 RTK drone and auxiliary equipment for fire detection – thermal cameras, a reflector, a loudspeaker and a parachute.

The project was co-financed by the European Union through the Interreg Euro-MED program, and the value of the drone with accompanying equipment is over 35 thousand euros.

Assistant Project Coordinator Aleksandar Škrelja stated that the project's theme is the prevention, or mitigation, of the impact of climate change, which manifests itself in the form of forest fires.

"In addition to this equipment, software will be developed that will help the drone be used even better and more efficiently. This drone will be used in rescue operations, or when extinguishing fires, and it will also serve the Protection and Rescue Service to observe inaccessible terrain and possible evacuations," said Škrelja.

The Head of the Rescue Service, Abdulah Nimanbegu, said that this is one of the most modern drones on the market that will greatly improve the work of the fire department.

"The drone has many functions that will make our interventions easier. Among other things, it also has a speaker and microphone through which we can communicate with people in inaccessible terrain until members of the Protection and Rescue Service arrive," emphasized Nimanbegu.

The Mayor of the Municipality, Genci Nimanbegu, said that the purchase of the drone is the result of cooperation between the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of European Affairs and the Municipality of Ulcinj, i.e. its IPA office.

“These are concrete contributions to improving the situation in our municipality. I hope that the members of the Protection and Rescue Service will take a good look at the possibilities that

drones have. So far, the municipality has acquired equipment for firefighters worth around 160 thousand euros through various projects, so we have a quality Service that certainly contributes to the prevention of fires and floods, and we will be even more active in that direction in the future,” said Nimanbegu.

The representative of the Ministry of European Affairs, Borka Lješković, said that the department is satisfied with the implementation of such a project.

“I think it is unnecessary to talk about the importance of this equipment after a season that was full of challenges and fires. We are also pleased that we can support the Municipality of Ulcinj, which is extremely active in European Union projects financed through IPA 3 funds. I believe that they will continue to work at such a good pace and use the funds in extremely good ways for the benefit of the community,” emphasized Lješković.

Kristina Dušaj from the Ministry of Finance said that she is pleased with the projects that are necessary for Montenegro, especially considering the past fire season.

“So we are looking forward to such projects and are constantly working to withdraw as much funds as possible from the EU for our country, for its benefit and for the benefit of our users,” she concluded.

The Municipality's Department for EU Projects announced that the drone and the appropriate software will be used to monitor areas with high fire risk, provide timely warning to the competent services and assist in coordinating interventions, which contributes to reducing the risk to life, preserving nature and reducing material damage. At the same time, the FRED software platform is being developed, which integrates advanced ICT tools for fire prevention, monitoring and analysis using artificial intelligence.

“The Fire Free MED project brings together partners from seven countries - Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Montenegro in joint efforts to reduce the risk of forest fires through innovative technologies,” the Municipality of Ulcinj's Department for EU Projects announced.