Roof Fire at an Apartment Building in Brno-Chrlice

The roof fire at an apartment building in Brno-Chrlice was reported on June 11, 2025, shortly after 1:00 p.m. Flames affected the northern section of the roof during reconstruction, threatening the attic sections of the maisonette apartments. Thirty units of the Fire Rescue Brigade of the South Moravia Region and volunteer fire brigadeswere deployed.  Aerial equipment and scaffolding were used along with a drone for reconnaissance and monitoring. Firefighters used water jets, foam, and fire hooks to slow the fire’s spread within the roof structure, coordinated interior and exterior interventions, and evacuated eight people and several pets. The fire caused damage of CZK 120 million with CZK 300 million of salvaged values. The operation was exceptionally challenging due to the rapid fire spread, intense physical demands, and the gradual collapse of the roof. The cause is under investigation, likely linked to negligence during reconstruction.                                                                                                

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Training Above and Below the Surface of the Brno Reservoir

On September 29–30, 2025, the Brno-Přehrada station hosted an instructional and methodological workshop for the chief instructors of the Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic, in cooperation with the diving unit of the Police of the Czech Republic. The two-day training included theoretical courses on breath-hold diving, prevention of hyperventilation and practical training in both an indoor pool and on the reservoir surface. Participants practiced locating drowning individuals on the surface using a line-abreast search pattern, safely securing and transporting victims, underwater orientation, and handling motorboats. Emphasis was placed on teamwork, discipline, and self-control among rescuers. The event provided valuable experience and methods to enhance coordination and effectiveness of water rescue operations.              

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Analysis of Combustion Products after the Fire at the Czech Embassy in Paris

On July 17, 2024, a two-story janitor’s apartment at the Czech Embassy in Paris burned down. Smoke and soot subsequently spread to other parts of the building. In September, sampling and analysis of combustion products from eleven rooms and electrical installations identified polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other toxins. From November through mid-December, an extensive dry and wet remediation was carried out, including cleaning of load-bearing structures, walls, ceilings, trapezoidal sheets, and technical installations. The remediation ensured hygienic safety, restored the building’s operational functionality, and represents a model of interdisciplinary collaboration between a professional institution and a specialized company.                                                                                  

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World of Rescuers in Karlovy Vary: A Key Place for Preparing Citizens for Everyday Risks and Emergencies

The unique educational center World of Rescuers in Karlovy Vary, open since 2015, offers interactive training focused on survival skills and crisis management. The facility utilizes traffic accident simulations, model fires, first aid exercises, and practical emergency scenarios, allowing participants to gain real experience and the ability to respond appropriately under stress. Programs are designed for children, youth, adults, and seniors, with emphasis on prevention, traffic safety, fire protection, and emergency management. Insights gained in Karlovy Vary now support the construction and planning of additional centers in other regions of the Czech Republic.                                   

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Fire at Storage Halls in Nehvizdy

A large fire broke out in the afternoon of 22 October 2025 in warehouse halls used for storing automotive parts, car accessories, camping equipment and hand tools in Nehvizdy near Prague. The fire spread rapidly through the structures of the buildings; two halls collapsed completely, others were affected partially. The fire alarm level was gradually increased up to the third degree and the intervention was divided into three sectors; aerial equipment, a drone with thermal imaging and a gas protection container were used. The dismantling of collapsed structures was carried out with the participation of the Emergency Unit of the Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic. No one was injured, and the hall with automotive material remained protected. Damage is preliminarily estimated at CZK 120 million, and the cause is under investigation.                                                                                                        

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Next Generation of Emergency Calls from Vehicles – eCall in the Czech Republic

From January 1, 2026, emergency call centres in the Czech Republic will be able to receive the next generation of emergency calls from vehicles – eCall. This is a more modern version of the existing eCall system, which automatically contacts the emergency number 112 in the event of a serious accident or is activated by the driver using a button inside the vehicle. Due to the introduction of this more advanced version, the emergency call centre system for the 112 emergency number was modified in 2024–2025, and emergency communications were migrated to a new communication protocol. For drivers, the method of use does not change; mainly the technology in the background and the speed of transmission of data from the vehicle are changing. In addition, in 2026 emergency calls in the form of real-time text will also begin to be tested.                                                                                                 

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Experience of Czech firefighters from the Exchange of Experts programme placement

Members of the CZERT Ground forest fire fighting using vehicles module of the Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic took part in a four-day study visit under the Exchange of Experts programme in the Spanish region of Valencia in October 2025, organised by Sociedad Valenciana de Gestión Integral de los Servicios de Emergencias. Participants gained detailed insight into the emergency management system, wildfire firefighting tactics, operations in transition zones between built-up areas and forested land, and coordination with aerial firefighting assets. Practical exercises highlighted differing approaches of Czech and Spanish units to incident planning and to working with terrain and wind conditions. The programme also included a presentation of experience gained during the extensive floods in 2024. The study visit provided concrete inputs for the application of high-pressure firefighting techniques, improvements to operations in transition zones, and public education in the field of prevention.                                                                              

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Fire Rescue Brigade of the Vysočina Region Develops Cooperation with Organisations for the Blind and Visually Impaired

The Fire Rescue Brigade of the Vysočina Region has established closer cooperation with organisations representing blind and visually impaired persons. The aim is to prepare people with visual impairments for emergency situations, while also improving firefighters’ skills in communication and during interventions when dealing with these persons. In the region, 39 blind and visually impaired persons with disabilities were included in the register of persons with disabilities and are eligible to use a special emergency communication method. The cooperation also included visits of clients to the regional operations centre, where both sides shared practical experience. In the future, the Fire Rescue Brigade of the Vysočina Region intends to expand its activities also towards people who are deaf, wheelchair users and other groups for whom crisis situations may be particularly demanding.                               

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Railway Accident Near the Town of Zliv

On Tuesday, November 20, 2025, units of the Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic responded to a collision between an express train and a passenger train near the town of Zliv. Out of 47 passengers, 37 were injured. All persons were successfully extricated within one hour of the incident report. Due to freezing weather, firefighters provided evacuation buses to ensure the thermal comfort of those involved. An information hotline and an assistance center were established at the regional headquarters of the Fire Rescue Brigade of the Southern Bohemian region to provide evacuees and their families with necessary facilities and psychosocial support.                                        

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Modernization of Drone Technology at the Emergency Unit of the FRS CR

The Emergency Unit of the Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic is strengthening its capabilities by acquiring three specialized drone sets for its dislocations in Hlučín, Zbiroh, and Jihlava. Each set includes a mobile trailer facility, a DJI Mini 4 Pro reconnaissance drone and a DJI FlyCart 30 heavy-lift drone with a capacity of up to 40 kg. This equipment enables the transport of materials, such as pumps or food, to areas inaccessible to conventional vehicles. Furthermore, unmanned systems provide real-time aerial reconnaissance, increasing the safety and efficiency of units and heavy machinery during emergencies.                               

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Modernization of the Public Warning System in the Czech Republic

In 2026, the Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic began implementing modern Cell Broadcast technology into the public warning system. This method allows immediate delivery of alert messages directly to mobile phones within a specific affected area. Unlike standard SMS messages, which may experience delays during emergencies, the new system delivers protection instructions to the public within seconds. Key advantages include functionality even during network congestion and the ability to automatically warn tourists and foreigners in both Czech and English, significantly increasing the safety of all persons within the country.                       

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Four Years of Humanitarian Aid to Ukraine

After four years of conflict in Ukraine, international support continues through the Union Civil Protection Mechanism. While massive material deliveries prevailed in the early stages, over the past year, aid has primarily transformed into financial support through specialized funds. A key focus remains the restoration of energy infrastructure, which the Fire and Rescue Service of the Czech Republic and other European states support by supplying generators and transformers. A vital part of this cooperation is also the medical evacuation, which has so far enabled the transport and treatment of nearly five thousand Ukrainian patients in hospitals across the European Union.                                                                                                   

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