Training heats up for firefighters

By Spc. Sophia R. Lopez, Joint Task Force-East Public AffairsAugust 12, 2009

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1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – NOVO SELO TRAINING AREA, Bulgaria - Penyo Zhekov, left, and Dinko Yanchev extinguishes a simulated vehicle fire during a fire drill here Aug. 5. The trainers are certified firefighters and instructors from across Europe who trained the Bulgarian fire... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – NOVO SELO TRAINING AREA, Bulgaria - Dinko Yanchev, left, and Penyo Zhekov hose down a vehicle during a simulated fire drill here Aug. 5. Firefighting training conducted here is part of Joint Task Force-East to help participants improve their lifesavi... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – NOVO SELO TRAINING AREA, Bulgaria - Penyo Zhekov, left, and Dinko Yanchev hastily pull a fire truck hose during firefighting training here Aug. 5. The firefighters were participants of training activities being conducted as part of Joint Task Force-E... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

NOVO SELO TRAINING AREA, Bulgaria - Retired firefighters from across Bulgaria, now providing contracting support for D.S.G. - Service Gesellschaft MBH, trained here Aug. 5 under the guidance of U.S. Army Installation Management Command-Europe. Both IMCOM-E and Handelsforum Wurzburg personnel instructed the Bulgarian firemen how to operate an HLF-24 fire truck.

"It's to give them knowledge of another truck and how the Army handles fire procedures and operations," said Sigurd Mack, fire protection specialist, IMCOM-Europe.

The trainers are certified firefighters and instructors from across Europe and trained the Bulgarian firefighters in emergency medical services and fire, rescue and hazardous material procedures.

Training at Novo Selo Training Area is part of Joint Task Force-East; a continuing effort by the United States and its partners to improve interoperability and improve their own readiness to execute missions throughout the region and across the globe in multinational security operations.