Oleg Korzun to members of the Belarusian Voluntary Fire Society: “Your work is important and valuable”

The solemn event dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the formation of the Minsk Free Fire Society was held in the Minsk City Department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations on October 22, the correspondent of the Minsk-Novosti agency reports.

The Minsk Free Fire Society is one of the oldest public organizations in the capital, dating back to 1876. The legal successor of its traditions today is the Minsk city organizational structure of the republican state-public association (RGOO) "Belarusian Voluntary Fire Society" (BDPO).

Speaking at the solemn meeting, Deputy Chairman of the Minsk City Executive Committee Oleg Korzun noted:

- Not every organization has a history as long as yours. On behalf of the Minsk City Executive Committee, I congratulate you on such a significant event. The work carried out by the Moscow Emergencies Ministry and the Minsk City Organizational Structure “BDPO” gives significant results – we feel safe, we feel comfortable. Your work deserves great respect. We understand how important and valuable it is. These are the lives of people saved because of you.

Over a century and a half, the mission of the organization has radically transformed: from the first squads that resisted fire in wooden Minsk to a modern structure in which fire prevention is closely intertwined with social and inclusive volunteering. Special attention is paid to targeted social assistance: BDPO members regularly visit children's hospitals and cancer centers, conducting interactive classes on the formation of a safety culture.

- In 1876, the Minsk Free Fire Society united people of different professions, the noblest people to protect their native city from the fire elements. Epochs and generations have changed, but courage, mutual assistance and readiness to help remained unchanged. Our main task is to unite the efforts of citizens to ensure the fire safety of our people, said Alexander Kudryashov, Chairman of the Republican Council of the RGOO BDPO.

According to the Chairman of the Minsk City Organizational Structure of BDPO Sergey Belyavsky, the main directions of its activities are preventive work in the residential sector and the gratuitous installation of autonomous fire detectors in the households of socially vulnerable citizens, work with labor collectives, as well as a systemic partnership with the Minsk City Department of Emergencies. Together with rescuers, republican actions and events for children and youth are held.

- Today, our structure unites nine district councils and more than 1,000 volunteers. During the nine months of this year, we visited almost 30,000 residential buildings and apartments, where we conducted firefighting briefings. We encourage citizens to take an active position in ensuring fire safety. We systematically produce and distribute our visual products, carry out organizational and mass and fire prevention measures, said S. Belyavsky. On this day, I want to thank our veterans. You have preserved the continuity of generations in the most difficult times. Without your dedication, there would not be the society we have today. Separate words of gratitude to the leadership of the Minsk City Executive Committee and employees of the Minsk City Department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. Your reliable shoulder, joint planning are the guarantor of the effectiveness of our preventive work. We value this partnership and will continue to strengthen it.

Deputy Head of the Minsk City Department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations Maxim Yakovlev noted that the team works for the benefit of the capital, achieves considerable success in educating citizens, in instilling the basics of life safety.

- It's expensive. Thank you very much for the assistance you provide to our bodies and units, he said.

At the solemn event, the awarding of activists and veterans of the RGOO “BDPO”, employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations was held. A concert program was prepared for the audience.

Photos provided by the Minsk City Organizational Structure of BDPO