Barev.les

Volunteer community in Armenia

Barev, les!

Protecting Armenia’s forests together. Preparing volunteers to work on wildfires.

Sign up for trainingTelegram channel

Why this matters

Every year, dry grass and underbrush burn in Lori, Tavush, Syunik, and Aragatsotn. Nine out of ten fires are caused by people: an unattended campfire, a cigarette butt, grass burning, or a spark from machinery.

Barev.les is a community of volunteer firefighters in Armenia. We learn to prevent fires, act safely at the fireline, and return home alive.

What we teach

Four lectures, additional materials, and practical field sessions. The program is based on materials from the Semargl volunteer wildland firefighter school and adapted for Armenia.

  1. 1

    Wildfires — introduction

    How fires start, the role of humans, different fire types, and how fire behaves on different terrain.

  2. 2

    Grass fires

    Why grass burning is the main source of fires in the region, how to extinguish them, and how to prevent them.

  3. 3

    Firefighter safety

    The LACES system, risk assessment, working in pairs, and gear. The main principle is to come home.

  4. 4

    Field sessions

    Practice on real terrain: scouting, building fire lines, and working with hand tools and backpack pumps.

Who this is for

The course is open to Armenia residents aged 18 and older. You don’t need to be an athlete, a firefighter, or an expert. What matters is being ready to learn, work as a team, and avoid unnecessary risk.

  • Activists and eco-activists ready to get involved
  • Tourists, guides, and rangers — those who are often the first to encounter fire
  • Students, volunteers, and local residents
  • A basic level of fitness is enough — about an hour of walking on rough terrain

Practical details

Cost
Free
Format
Online lectures + practical field sessions
Language
Russian, partly English
Duration
4 lectures + field trips

Sign up for training

Registration is handled through a Google Form. After you apply, we’ll contact you and invite you to the next group.

Fill out the registration form

News and updates

All announcements about classes, field trips, and activities are posted in our Telegram channel @BarevLes.

Open Telegram →