Decommissioned police and army vehicles repurposed to aid firefighting efforts nationwide
Skopje, 6 July 2025 (MIA) - The Protection and Rescue Protectorate is set to receive 50 firefighting vehicles to tackle wildfires nationwide. The vehicles were repurposed from old vehicles in the possession of the Defense Ministry and the Interior Ministry.
At the promotion of the repurposed vehicles at the Krivolak army field on Sunday, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said the vehicles in question had been neglected and unused for more than eight years. With these vehicles, he said, the country is much better prepared for the wildfire season.
“I want to thank everyone who participated in this activity. In this way the country will save around ten million euro, not to mention the significant increase in capacity,” Mickoski said.
The Prime Minister added that a firefighting plane is also expected to return from repairs this week, with another one returning by the end of August.
“Two police and two army helicopters are also ready if there is a need. We really can’t compare the situation to before. I can say that we are much, much better prepared than in the past if such challenges emerge,” Mickoski said.
The head of the Protection and Rescue Directorate, Stojanche Angelov, said the country now has more resources at its disposal than it did in previous years.
“For the first time, we have incomparably more resources to deal with the fires. These vehicles with 1.5-ton water reservoirs can reach areas that even the most modern off-road vehicles can’t reach,” Angelov said.
The Mayor of the Municipality of Kavadarci, Mitko Janchev, said the entire investment comes from socially responsible companies and individuals, and that this is the first time the country is getting “a national firefighting force”.
“Three months ago, we committed to bringing all decommissioned vehicles into service. Today, 34 vehicles designed for tackling outdoor fires were presented. They boast excellent features and capabilities for navigating challenging terrain. The entire investment comes from socially responsible companies and individuals,” Janchev said.
Photo: MIA
