A PROJECT CO-FINANCED FROM THE COHESION FUND OF THE EUROPEAN UNION STRUCTURAL FUNDS NO. 05.1.1-APVA-V-004-01-0008 “PURCHASE OF FIRE-FIGHTING VEHICLES AND FIRE EXTINGUISHING EQUIPMENT”

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Project no. 05.1.1-APVA-V-004-01-0008 “Purchase of fire-fighting vehicles and fire-fighting equipment” is financed by the 2014-2020 European Union funds investment action program priority 5 “Environmental protection, sustainable use of natural resources and adaptation to climate change” measures. Strengthening of environmental monitoring and control” funds. The amount of eligible costs of the project amounts to EUR 2,076,245.58. The end of the implementation of project activities is expected on 12/31/2023.

Every year, forests suffer from biotic, abiotic and anthropogenic factors. Fires cause a lot of damage to forests. 2010-2019 period, the number of forest fires in Lithuania varied from 80 to 280 fires per year (on average about 180 fires per year), the affected forest area on average was about 98 hectares.

One of the problems faced by the institutions supervising the fire protection system in Lithuania is outdated equipment, which does not ensure efficient and quick fire source detection and fire extinguishing, as a result of which the area of ​​burned forest increases. During fires, valuable stands, herbaceous plants, small fauna and flora are destroyed, soil structure is changed, air is polluted, and aesthetic elements are destroyed. Therefore, it is very important to respond promptly and quickly after receiving a report of a fire.

Taking this into account, a project has been initiated, according to which investments are made in the purchase of firefighting vehicles and firefighting equipment, in order to ensure an efficient forest fire protection system in Lithuania.

After the implementation of the project, it will be possible to quickly stop the spread of fires, the fire will be responded to more quickly, therefore the area of ​​burned forest will be reduced, and the environment will be less polluted due to CO2 released during the fire.

During the implementation of the project, the following fire-fighting equipment and fire-fighting vehicles were purchased:

1. 2020 purchased 23 light SUVs equipped with fire fighting modules equipped with high pressure pumps capable of transporting 0.3 m³ of water. These all-terrain vehicles are intended for the operative detection of the location of the forest fire and the initial initiation of extinguishing. In order for forest fires to spread as little as possible and to be extinguished as quickly as possible, workers who go to search for a possible fire should carry the most effective fire extinguishing equipment that does not reduce their mobility. As the experience of VMU and foresters of neighboring countries has shown, the most effective means of quickly responding to a forest fire and suppressing it before it spreads is an all-terrain vehicle equipped with a fire-fighting module capable of transporting 0.3-0.5 m³ of water.
2. 2021 purchased 7 large fire trucks capable of transporting at least 2 m³ of water for extinguishing spreading forest fires. These vehicles have increased ground clearance so that they can reach the fire scene not on roads, but often over difficult terrain such as sand and swampy areas. The technical characteristics of fire fighting vehicles ensure reliable access to the fire scene, sufficient delivery of water, and rational use of water so that expanding forest fires do not become an uncontrollable natural disaster.
3. 2023 a particularly high-speed light car was purchased, which will be used as a forest fire-fighting headquarters car, intended for the organization and management of widespread and spreading forest fire extinguishing works, the investigation of the causes and circumstances of forest fires, and the control of the execution of forest fire protection tasks.
4. 2023 purchased 27 six-wheeled mini-tractors equipped with fire-fighting modules equipped with high-pressure pumps capable of transporting 0.2 m³ of water. Due to the extremely high clearance, high maneuverability and small weight and dimensions, six-wheeled mini tractors provide opportunities to quickly find and localize forest fires before they spread, even in places inaccessible to other firefighting vehicles. The implementation of this project will contribute to the preservation of Lithuanian forests and their resources and ensure proper protection of forests against the spread of fires.