Riga, January 18, 2022 – U.S. Ambassador John Carwile, Minister of Interior Marija Golubeva, Chair of Daugavpils City Council Andrejs Elksniņš, and Chief of State Fire and Rescue Service General Oskars Āboliņš will participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate completion of the 16th fire station renovation project between the U.S. government and the Latvian State Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) on Wednesday, January 19 at 11:30.
The U.S. Embassy Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC Latvia) worked closely with the Latvian Ministry of Interior’s SFRS and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to implement the U.S. European Command Civic Engagement funded project of $600,000. The project was awarded to Latvian construction company “Abora”. This project entailed interior renovation of the fire station’s administrative and staff rooms, changing rooms, showers, as well as partial replacement of building’s heating and electrical systems. The renovation works have considerably improved firefighters’ working conditions and will protect Latvia’s current and future investments in rescue equipment and vehicles from potential deteriorating infrastructure damage.
The Daugavpils 2nd Division Fire Station renovation project is the 16th fire station renovation implemented by the U.S. Embassy’s ODC Latvia, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Latvian SFRS. Between 2009 and 2021, a total of 15 fire station renovations and construction projects were completed. Most recently, fire stations in Jelgava, Jēkabpils and Alūksne were renovated. These projects represent more than $5 million of investment in SFRS’s infrastructure as part of the U.S. European Command Civic Engagement program.
In addition to the SFRS projects, ODC Latvia works closely with other governmental organizations such as the State Emergency Medical Service, regional municipalities, schools, senior citizen homes, and orphanages. Since 2007, ODC Latvia has completed more than 56 individual projects with more than $11M in direct investment to the local economy as a result of using local vendors.
NOTE TO THE EDITOR:
The ribbon-cutting ceremony will begin at 11:30 on Wednesday, January 19 at the Daugavpils 2nd Division Fire Station, 13 Piekrastes iela, Daugavpils. The event is open to the media. Please plan to arrive no later than 11:10. Media credentials for the event may be obtained by contacting the U.S. Embassy Public Diplomacy Section by Tuesday, January 18, 5:00 pm.
