Volunteer fire brigade of Novgorod region celebrated the anniversary

The volunteer fire brigade of the Novgorod region turned 15 years old. This was reported by the press service of the EMERCOM in the Novgorod region.

The regional public institution “Voluntary Fire Team of the Novgorod Region” was established on November 8, 2011 with the support of the Main Directorate of the EMERCOM of Russia for the Novgorod Region. Over a decade and a half, volunteers have become an important part of the region’s fire safety system.

The origins of fire in the Novgorod land go back in the distant past and are also associated with volunteering. The first fire brigade in the Novgorod province appeared in Staraya Russa in 1808 - its basis was made up of ordinary residents ready to stand up to protect their native city from fire.

Today, volunteer firefighters continue this tradition. They are on duty around the clock and are especially important for remote settlements, where the arrival time of professional units can be longer. Volunteers are often the first to be on the site of a fire: they quickly start extinguishing, contain the spread of fire, help minimize damage and, most importantly, save human lives.