Lack of equipment and cooperation has been one of the main barriers for responding quicker to fire and rescue calls from inhabitants living at the border. Panevezys County Fire and Rescue Board in partnership with State Fire and Rescue Service of Latvia are working on a joint plan for fire and rescue response. Workshops will take place for discussing strategies and sharing of best practices. The two-day workshop “Use of the newly procured equipment, its tactical possibilities and operation” was held at the end of January 2011 in Panevezys, Lithuania. In addition, the project is aimed at purchase of new equipment for fire and rescue needs. Now Panevezys County Fire and Rescue Board together with project partner from Latvia is planning two practical training sessions for May 2011, one in Latvia and the other in Lithuania. Training will allow testing the new equipment in field conditions. Arturas Kiela, fire-fighting and rescue officer, has recently admitted that sometimes fire-fighting truck with lights and sirens is slower to get to the place of accident than a bicycle. The new tank, hydraulic lifter and operational management (dispatch) car make the heads of people turn just for one more reason – new vehicles shine with newness and demonstrate outstanding tactical possibilities that the firemen couldn’t even dream before. Achievements: Created joint fire brigades (units) - 1; Created means for performing joint public services (a number of services and infrastructure/%) - 3; Seminars - 4; Trainings - 4.• There was formed Project Management Group which members are representatives fromboth institutions. 7 meetings of this Group were organized for the smooth implementation of the project in Lithuania or in Latvia. • Two introductory seminars were organised in Latvia and Lithuania. Participants from Lithuania and Latvia - the leading officers of fire rescue services which were directly responsible for joint fire and rescue forces actions responding to the fires in the border regions - attended the seminar. During these seminars it was discussed characteristics of border region, risk objects and other potential sources of danger; mobilization of fire fighting recue institutions on both sides of border, their structure, equipment, stand-by units; objectives, sub-objectives and justification of the project; arrangement of joint practical training of effective cross-border co-operation in emergency situations, discussions and decisions on joint action plan and etc. • The joint fire fighting and rescue force actions plan responding to the extreme situations on border region was being developed. The technical specifications of the equipment purchase were developed, public procurement tender executed and contracts signed in Lithuania (1 hydraulic lifter, 2 auto cicterns, 1 operative management (headquarter) car, 1 transport vehicle) and in Latvia (1 vehicle ladder and 1 auto cistern). • Two press conference were organised for the purpose to disseminate project's aims and planned results. More information about the Project: • News about the Project on the website.• Website of Pavenezys County Fire Fighting and Rescure Board• Website of State Fire and Rescure Service in Latvia