On May 21 and 22 of this year, a working meeting of the international project “FIRELESS” (No. LL-00125) took place in Liepāja, with the primary objective of coordinating the preparatory processes for the upcoming firefighting sport competition “Stiprais ugunsdzēsējs” (The Strongest Firefighter).
During the meeting, the partners discussed all organizational matters of the competition in detail, including the planned budget, logistics solutions, required technical provision, and other essential aspects for the successful running of the event. Furthermore, within the framework of the meeting, productive discussions were initiated regarding the large-scale practical drills planned for this autumn in Lithuania, which will focus on more effective and efficient forest firefighting and consequence management in the border region.
All activities of the “FIRELESS” project are funded and implemented with the support of the European Union’s 2021–2027 Interreg VI-A Latvia–Lithuania Cross-Border Cooperation Programme.
The targeted investments of the European Union play a decisive role in building regional security and the capacity of rescue services. EU funding provides a unique opportunity for the operational services of Latvia and Lithuania to work in unified synergy—not only to plan actions theoretically but also to practically hone professional skills and mutual coordination. The “Stiprais ugunsdzēsējs” competition and the upcoming forest firefighting drills in Lithuania are a direct testament to how Interreg investments are translated into real, practical skills. This support enables operational services to respond to cross-border threats much faster and more effectively, providing a long-term security guarantee and protection for the residents and natural resources of both countries.
