First Joint Meeting Under the Project
This event marked the first joint in-person meeting of firefighters from both sides of the border, made possible by the Wildfire CE project. Discussions covered practical differences in approaches, legislative barriers, and the potential for creating a common terminological platform or regular exchange training. The Austrian side highlighted the lack of controlled burning options, while the Czech side pointed out the absence of evacuation points, which are already mapped on the Austrian side of border.
Firefighters Call for Continued Collaboration
Both sides agreed on the necessity of continuing these meetings and involving a broader spectrum of rescue system units. Participants discussed specific practical impacts of cross-border interventions, such as the need to unify insurance coverage for interventions or the creation of an online database of contact persons and competencies for potential crisis situations.
Specific Proposals for Action Plans
The workshop also brought forward several proposals for planned action plans – a joint cross border fire brigade training, recommendations for legislative changes regarding controlled burning or support for a media campaign highlighting the risks of human activities during visits to protected areas.
Conclusion: Cooperation is Key
In conclusion, it was clearly stated that cooperation is crucial, and the Wildfire CE project is a can create a platform for this cooperation.
The meeting was organized by the Czech Environmental Information Agency (CENIA) in collaboration with project partners, the CzechGlobe, and BOKU University. Special thanks for active participation go to representatives of both National Parks Podyjí and Thayatal and also to the fire brigades from Czechia and Austria.