The CTIF Seminar in Sofia 2025 focused on Global Wildfire Strategy and Firefighting Sports
Thank you for choosing Automatic Translation. Currently we are offering translations from English into French and German, with more translation languages to be added in the near future. Please be aware that these translations are generated by a third party AI software service. While we have found that the translations are mostly correct, they may not be perfect in every case. To ensure the information you read is correct, please refer to the original article in English. If you find an error in a translation which you would like to bring to our attention, it would help us greatly if you let us know. We can correct any text or section, once we are aware of it. Please do not hesitate to contact our webmaster to let us know of any translation errors.
80 participants from 23 countries gathered on Wednesday for a dynamic CTIF seminar devoted to combating wildfires and celebrating international fire sports.
Held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Sofia, Bulgaria, the event was opened by Chief Commissioner Aleksandar Dzhartov and Vice President Nikolay Nikolov, who welcomed attendees with messages of resilience, progress, and cooperation.
Under the banner "Wildfire Management: Response, Prevention, and Community Resilience," the morning sessions set an urgent tone. Otto Drozd (USA), Vice President of CTIF, delivered a keynote on holistic wildfire strategies, covering everything from disaster planning and alarms to post-crisis community outreach.
California’s Chief Anthony Marrone followed with an account of aerial wildfire operations in Los Angeles, offering hard-won insights from the frontline. A short break allowed delegates to catch their breath before diving into the European approach.
France’s Lieutenant-Colonel Frédéric Vancouleur introduced the emerging role of the fire analyst, a tactical function gaining traction as wildfires grow more unpredictable due to climate change.
Zisoula Ntasiou, CTIF vice president from Greece then presented lessons from the devastating 2024 wildfire season and the challenges of cross-border response.
The afternoon began with a European perspective from João Almeida de Silva (DG ECHO), detailing integrated fire prevention and rescue systems.
Presentations from Japan's Hiroshi Fukuchi and Chile’s Pablo Salvo highlighted global commonalities in wildfire impacts—and the shared urgency to adapt.
Switching gears, the spotlight shifted to "Fire Sports Worldwide." Bulgarian representatives showcased pioneering efforts in youth engagement and volunteer preparedness, culminating with a preview of the First European Fire Applied Sport Championship set for Dolna Banya in 2025.
