FAYETTE COUNTY — The Wayne Township Volunteer Fire Department hosted four Serbian firefighters on Tuesday in an continuing effort to help Serbia’s Ministry of Interior Emergency Management Sector develop its Volunteer Firefighter (VFF) program, which was dormant until 2018.

The Serbian firefighters visited Wayne Township and then Jefferson Township Fire & EMS, according to Chris Wysong, Wayne Township Fire Department chief. The visit was a continuation of Wysong’s trip to Serbia in June. The event developed with the Ohio National Guard’s state partnership with Serbia.

“We shared our department’s successful growth through training and new equipment on limited budgets,” said Wysong. “Our consistent efforts of seeking funding from various grant programs to ensure members’ safety while serving our community. We shared the same concerns regarding recruiting members willing to provide our communities with selfless service.”

The firefighters visited Jefferson Township Fire & EMS to show the contrast between large and small volunteer departments in Fayette County.

“This event is part of a planned series of exchanges that will focus on providing expert guidance to develop best practices as Serbia seeks to develop a VFF program that can be integrated into its disaster response doctrine,” said Wysong. “It will help Serbia respond to disasters more effectively.”

The guests were scheduled to join members of Wayne Township Fire for their regular monthly training.