The main objective of the ROHU-10 project was to enhance the training and response capabilities of volunteer fire departments in Bihor County (Romania) and Hajdú-Bihar County (Hungary), thereby helping to improve risk and emergency management in the cross-border region. The project aimed to strengthen a vital component of the disaster response system: volunteer emergency services.

Through the exchange of expertise between partner organizations in the two countries, the project aimed to strengthen the capacity of volunteer fire departments by facilitating the transfer of know-how, organizing joint response exercises, and developing a sustainable mechanism for cross-border cooperation among volunteer firefighters in the two counties.

Key Activities Carried Out

1. Development of training infrastructure

• Construction of a fully equipped training center in the commune of Diosig, including a wood-fired live-fire training simulator container.
• Equipping the center with practical training equipment: full sets of firefighter gear for training, respiratory protection systems, equipment for specialized competitions, accessories for water and foam operations, breaching and demolition equipment, an air compressor, first-aid kits, etc.

2. Training and Certification of Volunteer Firefighters

• Organization of training courses for volunteer firefighters in Romania, resulting in the certification of 138 participants, in accordance with current Romanian law.
• Organization of training courses for volunteer firefighters in Hungary, for both beginners and advanced participants, with 192 certified participants who received diplomas issued by the Hungarian Directorate for Emergency Management.

3. Providing Resources for Volunteer Emergency Services

• Purchase of equipment for the Diosig Volunteer Emergency Response Service, including a water tanker, an electric generator, first-aid kits, extrication equipment, and respiratory protection gear, as well as a full set of firefighting gear.
• Hiring 5 people for the volunteer service in Diosig (1 service manager and 4 tanker truck drivers) and obtaining written commitments from the volunteers who will serve at the training center.

4. Regulation and Standardization

• Developing a set of protocols and procedures for organizing and carrying out the operations of the Diosig Volunteer Emergency Response Service.

5. Support for Partners in Hungary

• Purchase of equipment for the Hajdú-Bihar Firefighters’ Federation, needed for demonstration and training activities (firefighting and respiratory protection demonstration kits, IT equipment for presentations).

6. Public Information and Awareness

• Organizing an interactive roadshow on the Hungarian side, featuring 20 public demonstrations at events in the border region, to raise awareness of the importance of volunteer firefighters.
• Production of 4 informational videos dedicated to the same purpose.

7. Digitalization and Innovation

Development of an e-learning platform and a mobile emergency alert app, available free of charge to all volunteer emergency services on both sides of the border.