“Rescue Clubs for the Future” successfully assist in responding to various types of disasters

According to statistics from the Executive Forest Agency, between 2010 and 2024, there were 7,115 forest fires in Bulgaria, affecting 92,694 hectares of land. Data for the current year is not yet available. Over 90% of all fires are caused by human activity - burning stubble, careless handling of open flames, or intentional acts. However, many of these fires can be contained if they are located and tackled in time. Firefighters respond in such moments, but often even they need support from ordinary citizens who have joined various volunteer squads.

A network of such squads, called “Rescue Clubs for the Future,” has been created by Lazar Radkov, known to many as the founder of the charity campaign “Caps for the Future,” which has provided ambulances and medical equipment to hospitals across the country. The two initiatives run in parallel, not at the expense of one another, which is one reason they are both successful and genuinely beneficial to society.

In an interview with Radio Bulgaria, Radkov shared what skills members of the rescue clubs - currently numbering ten - have acquired:

Anelia Ilieva and Lazar Radkov (center) in the Radio Bulgaria studio

“Everyone has undergone initial training in firefighting and emergency rescue operations through one of the regional departments of ‘Fire Safety and Civil Protection.’ Additionally, we have people involved in rope rescue, paramedics, doctors - most have completed at least one first aid training course, and many are amateur radio operators. Since the end of last year, we’ve had a rescue dog unit, and with the help of sponsors, we’ve secured high-clearance vehicles equipped with firefighting systems and purchased off-road ambulances.”

Their participation in containing several fires across the country in recent weeks has helped volunteers improve their mobilization, internal communication, and develop a system for quickly integrating new applicants - ensuring that only those truly committed to contributing to the organization’s development remain.

“We’re not professionals, we’re volunteers. We train with firefighters, and we’ve already built strong relationships with various regional departments and directorates across the country,” says Lazar Radkov.

Training sessions are organized once a sufficiently large group of interested individuals is gathered and a request is submitted to a regional department. These sessions typically take place in spring and autumn, when the need for intervention is lower.

When asked how many tons of plastic caps would be needed to acquire a specialized aircraft capable of extinguishing fires, Radkov gave a clear answer:

Consequences of the fire in Pirin Mountain above the village of Ilindentsi, August 13, 2025

“Back in 2022, when we still didn’t have a medical helicopter, I started researching prices and suitable models - both new and second-hand. They cost millions, and it was clear we couldn’t raise that amount with caps alone. So I began contacting large companies that might want to contribute in exchange for branding opportunities. But then the war in Ukraine broke out, which impacted the economy across Europe, and companies cut their marketing and advertising budgets.”

Despite this, Radkov is convinced that the “Caps for the Future” campaign has had a significant impact:

“The caps campaign teaches people - and children in schools and kindergartens - a principle: when we do something small but meaningful, regularly and collectively, those efforts accumulate and lead to something big. Alongside the caps, we sell charity merchandise, and people donate substantial amounts. This way, we raised over 180,000 BGN for people who lost their homes in the fires in the Kostinbrod and Tran regions.”

The fire in Kostinbrod, near the village of Ponor, July 21, 2025

Anelia Ilieva, a former human resources specialist, has actively supported various charitable causes for years. That’s why her involvement first as a volunteer in the caps campaign and now in the rescue clubs feels completely natural. She made an appeal to all people traveling around the country for tourism or leisure:

“Let them be more conscious and understand the consequences of their actions that endanger nature and everything around them. We had a recent case in the Kresna gorge, where there was yet another traffic jam, and the car in front of us threw out both trash and cigarette butts. People need to realize the potential consequences of their actions, because the scenes we witnessed in Pirin Mountain and the scale of the natural disaster were horrifying and hard to digest.”

Read more:

English publication: R. Petkova
Photos: Joan Kolev, Anelia Ilieva's private archive

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“Rescue Clubs for the Future” successfully assist in responding to various types of disasters

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