TIRANA, Oct 24 /ATA/ During a meeting with firefighters in Durrës, Minister of Interior Albana Koçiu discussed strengthening the service to ensure faster and more effective responses in any emergency situation. The meeting was also attended by the Mayor of Durrës, the Prefect, and the Director General of the Fire Service.
Albana Koçiu underscored the importance of a capable emergency rescue service, noting that climate change has made emergencies more frequent and unpredictable, necessitating timely, professional, and prepared responses.
Albana Koçiu noted that although Albania’s fire service is now decentralized and regulated at the municipal level, smaller municipalities still lack the resources to manage large-scale fires.
Restructuring the Fire Service and Civil Emergency units is considered a pressing priority.
She emphasized the need to establish a coordinated mechanism to ensure proper fund management and resource allocation, allowing smaller municipalities to respond effectively, save lives, and protect the environment. She praised the fire service for its daily efforts in handling urban emergencies, supporting families, and addressing floods with expertise and professionalism. Moving forward, she stressed the importance of creating a regional coordination system among municipalities to better address emergencies in areas with limited resources.
Koçiu highlighted the importance of life-long training according to European standards and announced the creation of a civil emergency training academy to modernize the fire and emergency corps.
The Minister of Interior stressed the need for a fire service salary reform and announced the government’s commitment to implementing a concrete plan to ensure recognition and support for firefighters year-round.
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