Volunteer Fire-Rescue Post to Be Established in Meghradzor Village of Kotayk Province

On March 13, under the auspices of the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES), the Embassy of Japan in Armenia, the Kotayk Provincial Administration, and the Public Organization "Economic Journalists' Club", the program "Strengthening the Resilience of Meghradzor Community through the Establishment of a Volunteer Fire-Rescue Base" was launched in the Meghradzor village of the Tsaghkadzor community, supported by the Japanese Embassy's "Human Security" grant. This was announced by the MES of Armenia.

The launch of the program was marked by the signing of a contract between the Japanese Embassy in Armenia and the "Economic Journalists' Club". The opening ceremony was attended by MES Rescue Service Director and Deputy Minister Kamo Tsutsulyan, Deputy Directors of the Rescue Service Yegor Karapetyan and Tigran Petrosyan, Ambassador of Japan to Armenia Yutaka Aoki, Kotayk Governor Aharon Sahakyan, Tsaghkadzor Community Mayor Narek Harutyunyan, and other guests.

The initiative to create a volunteer fire-rescue post in Meghradzor is part of a grant program announced by the Japanese Embassy in Armenia aimed at addressing community safety issues, with the "Economic Journalists' Club" being recognized as the winner. Many communities in Armenia are situated at significant distances from serviced fire-rescue units, which means that, for objective reasons, fire-rescue teams sometimes arrive at incident sites considerably late. Therefore, the establishment of fire-rescue posts and the presence of volunteer fire-rescue forces are considered more effective for ensuring rapid responses, thereby reducing response times and minimizing human loss.

In this context, with the support of the MES Rescue Service, the activities to establish a volunteer fire-rescue post in Meghradzor have commenced. The Tsaghkadzor community consists of 6 villages with a total population of around 6,000. Located in a high-risk zone for forest fires, the residents of this region are under real threat. The community has a total area of 8,500 square meters covered by forest and grass.

The community's settlements are located 16-30 kilometers away from the nearest fire-rescue unit in Hrazdan, and during emergencies, fire-rescue teams require a significant amount of time to reach the site. Meanwhile, the factor of first response time is crucial for saving lives and reducing damage.

During the event, Kamo Tsutsulyan, MES Rescue Service Director and Deputy Minister, addressed the guests, stating: “The creation of a volunteer fire-rescue post in Meghradzor stems from the strategy adopted by the MES Rescue Service, aimed at strengthening the population protective systems in the regions of Armenia through volunteer capabilities. The objective is to reduce the response time to fires and emergencies, as well as to minimize material losses to the state and citizens.”

He added that the Rescue Service supports the volunteer recruitment process, has developed a basic training program for volunteers, organizes training exercises with volunteer participation, conducts qualification processes for volunteers, and, per the Armenian government’s decision, provides fire engines to communities.

Tsutsulyan also highlighted the crucial role played by the provincial government and communities in supporting the project, as they provide infrastructure, cover maintenance costs, and offer other assistance in volunteer recruitment, insurance, and provision of equipment.

Speeches were made by Kotayk Governor Aharon Sahakyan, Ambassador Yutaka Aoki, and Anna Baghdasaryan, President of the "Economic Journalists' Club". Baghdasaryan noted that the organization is participating in the project on a voluntary basis within the framework of its social responsibility, aiming not only to support the community's resilience to disasters and reduce potential safety and economic losses but also to promote the volunteer movement, contributing to the strengthening of the country’s security.

Congratulating the attendees and highlighting the importance of the document signing, the ambassador underscored collaboration, stating that in Japan's crisis response system, volunteer support is considered the most vital strength. He appreciated the support provided by the MES Rescue Service and local self-government bodies for the volunteer movement, which aims to empower and strengthen them.

It is noteworthy that the responsibility for the future operation and furnishing of the post will also lie with the enlarged Tsaghkadzor community, which will provide individual protection gear, materials, and equipment for the post. The MES Rescue Service will carry out volunteer retraining programs and provide a fire truck.