Statistical Yearbook 2007

Fire units activities, Emergency calls, Fires, Prevention, Humanitarian assistance, Economic Indicators, Foreign statistics, Materials and information, Types of incidents with fire units interventions and Notes 

This year 2008, the Czech Republic celebrates 15 anniversary of the newly established state. In the last 15 years the Fire & Rescue Service of the Czech Republic (FRS CR) passed through many substational changes, concerning legislation, competencies, organisation, operation, tactics, equipment, personal, and also in the area of fire statistics.
 
In 1993 a number of documents adjusting duty performance of fire units, and activities of different bodies in joined interventions, were published. One of the most important was that one on principals of the integrated rescue system, given by the No. 246 Governmental Decree of 19 May 1993. Then, principles on fire cover by means and powers of fire units were elaborated, by the No. 646 Governmental Decree from 16 November 1994. Groundwork for these documents were drawn from statistics data of previous years, and influenced by tactical, technical, and mainly financial potential, which was a limit factor even for the qualified development study till 2000. These breakthrough documents opened both expert and political discussions on future and on necessity of systemic solutions for managing situations of major emergencies in CR.
  
Evaluating last 15 years from statistics data point of view, number of incidents increased from nearly 50,000 in 1993 to more than 115,000 in 2007. The biggest increase is in traffic accidents, where firefighters intervene both in rescue of people and liquidation of aftermaths. Also HazMat leakages had marked increase, most often oil products leakages, then technology failures, and technical assistances. Firefighters intervened in many natural disasters, never registered in such scale in statistics before 1992. Mainly the 1997 floods and the 2002 floods, and windstorms and hurricanes, when in January 2007 the Kyrill hurricane caused the biggest natural disaster of its kind. Cooperation of firefighters and other bodies of IRS was employed also in managing of infectious emergencies (foot-and-mouth-disease, BSE, bird flu). In last 15 years more than 100,000 people were rescued from direct danger, and nearly 170,000 were evacuated from risky areas.
Some statistics data in firefighters’ activities are very mournful, too. Nine professional and twelve voluntary firefighters died in operations in last 15 years, further 3,600 professionals and 1,500 volunteers were injured, with hospitalisation and long-term treatment in many cases. Statistic enumeration can’t be complete without principal economical comparison. Published data compare years 1993 – 2006. During this period, GDP increased 3.2 times, state budget expenses for FRS CR activities increased 5.3 times; direct losses from fires are every year approximately equal to 0.08 % of GDP. Timely interventions of firefighters in fires saved values of 100 milliards CZK (4 milliards EUR) in last 15 years. Compared the above mentioned numbers to foreign fire statistics, results of the Czech Republic are good in comparable indications (number of casualties in fires, investment to passive fire protection of buildings newly constructed or reconstructed). Costs for fire brigades are incomparable to foreign statistics in last five years, as WFSC requires only expenses for fire protection. Firefighters’ activities in CR are wider, with more competencies, not only fighting fires, and therefore it’s a pity that our data are not comparable to abroad.
 
Following statistics outputs in long-term period can reveal system adjusting, and serve as a basis for both, short-term and long-term prognosis. Data from last 15 years show us, that our system was adjusted in a reasonable way, and it proofed to react flexibly to all above mentioned incidents and emergencies. However, we can’t claim that no more changes are needed. Statistics data from last 5 years made us reassess objectives of several important issues (e.g. fire cover, IRS documentations, some conceptions, notices and even laws). Highly increasing number of incidents together with permanent increasing of prices that manifests both in operation and investment financing, caused high tension between ensuring of elementary needs and possibilities of sustainable development. The key task for future years is to keep acceptable balance between FRS CR given activities and its needs, and financial competencies.     
This issue covers also some of the data from the 15-year period, since the Czech Republic was established, and provides comprehensive review on emergencies and connections with.

Maj-Gen Miroslav ŠTĚPÁN
Director General of Fire Rescue Service of the Czech republic

Address: Ministerstvo vnitra - generální ředitelství HZS ČR (Ministry of Interior, General Directorate of Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic), Kloknerova 26, pošt. přihr. 69, post code 148 01 Praha 414
Telephone: +420 974 819 220, +420 974 819 229, +420 974 819 230
Fax: +420 974 819 960
E-mail (press agent): petr.kopacek@grh.izscr.cz

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