Water Cistern

One of the hazards with the highest probability of occurrence in historical centres is fire. Both Gjirokastra and Berat World Heritage Sites have many challenges related to fire: The outside stone shells of the buildings are “hiding” an entirely wooden interior very prone to fire; the particular landscape and narrow streets make first truck access impossible; the proximity of structures to each other could lead to fire spreading to multiple buildings; the fire protection system is limited and often out of service due to the limited water supply. Throughout the history of both cities, fire has caused a lot of damage, and many monuments have been completely destroyed. 

The works involved include restoration of the various elements of the water collection system, as well as the installation of a pumping system within the cistern, which is connected to a hydrant on the street outside the house. This hydrant can be used by the owner of the house, as well as by the neighbors and also the fire department.

In case of fire, the owners can immediately react in the first crucial minutes of the fire and localize it while the fire department can connect their pipes and use the water of the cistern to completely extinguish the fire. The whole system is automatic and completely independent of electricity.

The system is successfully installed and fully functional in Gjirokastra, while in Berat the progress has been halted by diverging views of the partnering local authorities.These firefighting systems will draw on the rain water collected in the water cisterns, giving local residents and members of the fire brigade the chance to put down fires before they spread.

Trainings are organized together with the members of the fire department, in order to raise awareness for local residents regarding fire and how to react.The project is being awarded as Best Practice in Disaster Risk Management of Cultural Heritage during UNESCO chair workshop in October 2020.