Summary Magazine 112 year 2025
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
The fire at the National Theater in Prague: An intervention that protected incalculable values
On November 26, 2024, a fire broke out on the 4th floor of the historic building of the National Theater in Prague. Thanks to the quick response of security and the activation of the fire alarm, firefighters arrived at the scene within five minutes and effectively prevented the further spread of the fire. The fire was concentrated in technical spaces and shafts, where it was identified by thermal imaging cameras. The intervention was carried out in cooperation with the Police CR and the Emergency Medical Service. No one was seriously injured. Damages were calculated at 10 million CZK. Protected values reach 7 billion CZK. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Munitions of war still pose a danger after decades
On Friday, August 30, 2024, a fire was reported in a clearing near Městečko Trnávka, which affected 4 ha of forest and required the intervention of 28 fire protection units and the deployment of a Black Hawk helicopter. The fire spread quickly due to strong wind, and the intervention was complicated by inaccessible terrain. The cause of the recurring fires was the self-ignition of white phosphorus from war ammunition left behind by the German army after World War II. Its search and removal in the given location is not realistic. The solution could be the planting of trees that would prevent the direct impact of the sun's rays on the incriminated area.
Civil Emergency Planning Committee Activities in 2024
In 2024, the Civil Emergency Planning Committee focused on energy resilience, stress tests in the electricity industry, statute updates and crisis exercises. Two meetings and three silent procedures took place during March and September. The Development Strategy of the Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic until 2030 was approved and the ZONE 2023 and RESOURCES 2024 exercises were evaluated. The Ministry of Regional Development became a new member of the Committee. The results of the activities are available on the website of the Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic.
Three years of assistance to Ukraine within the Union Civil Protection Mechanism
In February 2025, three years have passed since the start of the war in Ukraine. The European Union and other countries continue to provide humanitarian aid, which increased again in 2024. More than 153 thousand tons of material aid were delivered through the Union Civil Protection Mechanism. Energy infrastructure remains a key area – thousands of generators and transformers have been delivered. The Czech Republic participated in the aid, among other things, by transporting bridge sets, providing fire engines and heaters. The situation on the frontline remains tense and Ukraine's humanitarian needs continue to grow.