Fire at the oil and auto parts warehouse in Kladno

A fire broke out on May 16, 2024 at the premises of the LKQ CZ company in Kladno-Kročehlavy, which quickly spread from plastic containers to the roofs and adjacent buildings, including flammable liquid warehouses, a store and apartment units. The fire unit's intervention included the deployment of professional and volunteer units, special equipment and fire foam agents, and a special level of fire alarm was declared. The fire was localized within a few hours, and it was completely extinguished the following day. The probable cause was negligence while smoking or intentional arson. Damage amounted to 42 million CZK, with salvaged values ​​of 40 million CZK. The intervention was carried out without injuries thanks to the quick response of the firefighters and excellent coordination.

Firefighter-paramedic training at Lake Sadská

During the last holiday week, a two-day training of firefighter-paramedics was held at Lake Sadská, focusing on model situations and practical skills. The exercise included nine stations, where firefighters dealt with, for example, burns, injuries from traffic accidents, or resuscitation. The realistic masking of injuries provided by the Czech Red Cross or the use of special equipment when transporting the injured contributed to the realistic simulation of interventions, such as rescuing drowning victims. Over 50 firefighters and 21 assistants participated in the event. The training was an important refresher of knowledge and skills for field work. The high professionalism of the participants contributed to the success of the event, which took place in challenging summer weather conditions.

XXIV. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SEPARATION CHEMISTRY AND TOXIC SUBSTANCES ANALYSIS

The conference, which took place on November 12–13, 2024 in Lázně Bohdaneč, attracted 60 experts from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The key topics were the toxic substances analysis, prevention of major accidents, new methods of separation and decontamination, and population protection. Participants presented advanced technologies, including a portable liquid chromatograph, and discussed case studies of accidents. The event offered 24 expert contributions and opportunities for discussion and cooperation. The conference confirmed its significant role in connecting scientific, rescue, and industrial organizations.

Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Hungary focused on strengthening flood safety and crisis preparedness during its 2024 EU Presidency. It organised key events, including a seminar on flood risk management and a meeting of Directors General for civil protection, which highlighted the importance of cooperation and adaptation to climate change. It also discussed the Niinistö report, which calls for comprehensive crisis preparedness involving the whole of society. The results included recommendations for improving flood prevention and the adoption of strategic documents strengthening the EU’s crisis resilience. Hungary successfully concluded its Presidency and handed it over to Poland, which will continue to implement these key agendas.

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Fire in the Industrial Hall in Ostrava-Vítkovice

A fire in the industrial hall in Ostrava-Vítkovice required the intervention of 19 fire protection units. The fire broke out in the morning hours of August 14, 2024, during preparatory demolition work and quickly spread through the roof structure. The intervention was complicated by high temperatures, narrow access roads and insufficient hydrant network capacity. Drones, aerial fire vehicles and aerial firefighting service were deployed to the site. The incident commander reported the fire extinguished at 16.29 hours on August 16, 2024. The cause was negligence in the burning of material. There was no damage because the hall was intended for demolition.

Battery storage – their risks and extinguishing methods

Battery storage facilities provide efficient energy storage but carry significant risks such as the possibility of fire or explosion. The most common causes include short circuits, overheating or defects in charging systems. Lithium batteries are popular due to their low weight, but when damaged they can release flammable and toxic substances. Firefighters often face complex interventions, in which they cool the equipment with a water curtain or immerse it in a water bath. They are also actively involved in the development of technologies and legislative changes to increase fire safety.

Certification at the Technical Institute of Fire Protection in Prague in 2024

In 2024, the Technical Institute of Fire Protection in Prague issued a total of 87 certificates and attestations for products for firefighters, rescue services and the public. The largest volume of work was the testing and certification of fire equipment, including transport and response vehicles. Certification includes the assessment of technical documentation, tests in a testing laboratory and the issuance of a certificate or attestation. The result may also be the refusal of certification with a clear justification. The entire process is ensured by the authorized and accredited Certification Authority No. 3080.

Training of people with mental disabilities of a wide age range

The cooperation of the Ministry of Interior-Directorate General of the Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic with the Euroinstitute enabled the training of people with mental or combined disabilities in the field of population protection during common risks and emergencies. The project training included theoretical training and practical demonstrations adapted to the specific needs of the students. 84 students, 6 special educators and 20 teaching staff participated. Thanks to the positive response, the training became part of the program for 540 students of the Euroinstitute.

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.

Bakery fire in Beroun

On the night of October 13-14, 2024, a fire broke out in the bakeries in Beroun, affecting part of the roof and the technological facilities of the building. The intervention lasted over 22 hours and involved 21 fire protection units. The firefighters faced complications such as gas flashes or falling ceilings, and eight of them were slightly injured during the intervention. The employees were evacuated in time. The damage to the buildings and technologies is estimated at CZK 100 million and the salvaged values ​​at CZK 400 million. The cause of the fire is still being investigated.

Benzene leak from technology on the premises of OKK Koksovny, a. s.

On Tuesday, December 3, 2024, an exercise of the integrated rescue system services took place on the premises of OKK Koksovny. The aim was to test the operator's emergency preparedness for the case of an accident involving the leakage of benzene from the technology into the external environment and watercourse. The exercise checked the coordination of the intervention, the tactics of the services of the integrated rescue system in the event of a HAZMAT leakage, the timeliness of the company's external emergency plan, warning the population and procedures for dealing with the accident.

Rescue Canine at the Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic– Part 1

Interview with dog handlers Pavel Viták and Václav Vančura about rescue canine, which deals with the training of dogs for searching for missing persons. Training a dog takes up to four years and requires a trusting relationship between the dog handler and the dog. Theoretical preparation of a dog handler takes several years and includes the study of dog ethology and training methods. Firefighter-dog handler pass demanding certification exams with dogs that test their readiness for intervention.

Project Hero Children

The project Hero Children aims to strengthen the psychological resilience of children and adolescents. As part of a project with the Pardubice Region Fire Department, they become rescuers for a day and learn to overcome obstacles, work within a team and resist fear. Four meetings are prepared for selected school classes every year over several months. Pardubice fire station is one of the stops for children in the seventh and eighth grades of primary school. Firefighters focus on working with concerns, for example when searching for an injured person, moving around in a chemical suit or communicating with a person in acute stress.

Fire Involving Hazardous Waste on Waste Treatment Line

On Saturday, November 2, 2024, a fire broke out at the landfill site of Celio, a.s. Waste containing hazardous substances caught fire on a waste treatment line. The intervention included thorough monitoring of the concentration of harmful substances in the air in the surrounding municipalities. A total of 248 firefighters intervened in the emergency. The damage caused was estimated by the company's management at CZK 15 million. Based on the information found, three versions of the possible cause of the fire are being examined.                                         

Exercise of Mobile Groups of the Radiation Monitoring Network

In October 2024, an exercise of mobile groups of the radiation monitoring network took place at the premises of the National Institute for NBC Protection in Kamenná. A total of 23 mobile groups practiced, of which five were from the Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic. The exercise included a theoretical and practical part, during which, for example, work with various measuring instruments was practiced.                                                                                                                      
Information on Activities in the Field of NATO Civil Emergency Preparedness and Resilience

On March 5, 2025, the Director General of the Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic, Lt. Gen. Vladimír Vlček, Ph.D., MBA, submitted the material “Report on activities in the field of NATO civil emergency preparedness and resilience for 2024” for discussion at the 87th meeting of the Civil Emergency Planning Committee. The report describes the development in the field of NATO civil emergency preparedness and resilience for 2024 and summarizes the most important topics of the departments' activities.                                                                                         
Exhibition 30 Years Since the Fire at the Šumperk Theatre

In the autumn of 2024, 30 years have passed since the Šumperk Theatre building was engulfed in a fire, which became one of the largest in the district. The theatre was successfully restored, and the actors have been working in the new building for two decades. The Šumperk Local History Museum, in cooperation with the Olomouc Region Fire Rescue Service, the Šumperk Territorial Department and the Šumperk Theatre, organized the exhibition “Like a Phoenix from the Ashes” – 30 years since the Šumperk Theatre fire. The exhibition maps the fire itself and the following period from 1994 to the reopening of the theatre in October 2024.                                      

Tragic Fire in Family House in Brandýs nad Orlicí Claims Human Life

On the evening of Wednesday, February 5, 2025, an older family house caught fire in Brandýs nad Orlicí. The fire was originally reported as a possible flare-up of a reported controlled burning in the village of Oucmanice. Firefighters intervened in extreme conditions, as the massive fire spread very quickly and soon engulfed the entire building. It took several hours to fully extinguish the fire. The fire claimed one life. Experts are now investigating the cause of the fire, and a defect in the electrical installation seems likely.                   

Training Tested Firefighters During Cave Rescue

Members of the Olomouc Region Fire Rescue Service took part in training  at a speleological simulator, which is part of the Moravian Karst. In a cave system with an underground river, firefighters-climbers from Šumperk and Jeseník practiced the rescue of an injured speleologist. For firefighters, cramped underground complexes pose one of the biggest rescue challenges. The two-day training continued in the village of Vír, where firefighters simulated the rescue of a hypothermic tourist from the Horní Vyhlídka via ferrata route. Via ferratas are other places from which rescuing tourists in distress is complicated and demanding.

European Union Preparedness Strategy

The European Commission has presented the first EU Preparedness Strategy, which addresses geopolitical, climate and technological challenges. The document follows up on the Niinistö report and links civil and military preparedness with an emphasis on cooperation with NATO. It contains 30 measures and an action plan with 63 tasks focused on risk anticipation, the resilience of key systems and public awareness. It strengthens crisis structures, reserves and early warning systems. The Czech Republic supports the strategy but emphasizes the importance of respecting national competences.      

Providing Psychosocial Support To Members Of The Roma Ethnic Group

The International Conference on Crisis Intervention is held regularly at the University of Innsbruck. A contribution on the topic of providing psychosocial support to Roma was presented by Maj. Mgr. Tomáš Adámek, psychologist of the Fire Rescue Brigade of the South Bohemian Region, at last year's 21st annual conference focused on providing psychosocial support to particularly vulnerable groups during emergencies. The main topics of the contribution were understanding, deepening and integrating knowledge and specifics associated with providing assistance to members of the Roma ethnic group.                                                                                              

Fire in a Nursing Home

On the night of January 2, 2025, a fire broke out in a nursing home in Karlovy Vary. 100 people were evacuated, most of whom with limited mobility. 17 firefighting units with 30 fire vehicles participated in the intervention. One person died in the fire. Due to damage to the heating system, alternative accommodation was provided for nine residents. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, the damage is estimated at 800 thousand CZK. Thanks to the quick intervention and coordination, most residents were able to return to their apartments within five hours.                

Tactical Exercise: Natural Disaster 2025 - Storm Dorota

On Tuesday, February 25, 2025, a tactical staff exercise of the integrated rescue system services entitled Natural Disaster 2025 - Storm Dorota took place in Znojmo. Eighty participants from 17 organizations practiced responding to a fictitious natural emergency that caused local floods and infrastructure failures. The exercise tested coordination, communication, and the use of modern technologies, including the Jestřáb system. The output of the exercise was a situation report for the Governor of the South Moravian Region as a basis for a possible declaration of a state of emergency. The exercise demonstrated a high level of preparedness of all involved entities.   

Procedures and Communication with Persons with Disabilities

The Fire Rescue Brigade of the Karlovy Vary Region has long-term cooperation with organizations for persons with disabilities. Based on the experience with the Herwart storm in 2018, it is promoting the registration of people with specific needs for more effective rescue operations in crises. These include, for example, people on pulmonary ventilation, the deaf, or paraplegics. In 2025, a working group was established to improve access to emergency calls and crisis communication.                            

Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Poland successfully concluded its Presidency of the Council of the EU in June 2025 with an emphasis on civil protection and crisis communication. The main output was the Union Preparedness Strategy responding to growing risks. Three seminars brought together over 200 experts from over 30 countries. Poland handed over the Presidency to Denmark, which will continue to implement the new strategy and strengthen European resilience.                                                                                       

Fire at a plastic waste landfill in Rynholec

A fire was reported to the emergency line 112 of the Central Bohemian Region Fire Rescue Service on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025 at 6:35 p.m. at the site of the waste landfill of the company EKOLOGIE, s. r. o., in Rynholec in the Rakovník region. After arriving at the scene of the intervention, the investigation revealed that it was a fire of approximately 20 × 30 meters on the surface of a plastic landfill with floor plan dimensions of 100 × 50 meters and a height of 6 meters. A total of 53 firefighting units, 117 pieces of fire equipment and 250 firefighters intervened on the scene. The fire caused damage of CZK 15 million, and the values preserved on the industrial building and line amounted to CZK 400 million. The cause of the fire is under investigation, and at the beginning of the investigation, intentional arson was stated as a possible cause.                                                                                        

Training of chief instructors for work on water and frozen surfaces in the Republic of Austria

From May 19 to 23, 2025, an instructional and methodological training of chief instructors for work on water and frozen surfaces took place in the Republic of Austria, which was organized under the patronage of the Ministry of the Interior-General Directorate of the Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic. The aim was to increase the professional competence of participants in the field of water rescue, improve paddling techniques in demanding conditions and deepen knowledge of the safety principles of movement on wild watercourses. The training was designed to combine both theoretical and practical elements, which allowed participants to experience a wide range of situations that they may encounter during this type of activity.                                                                                                                                

Rescue Shoring CZ application

Modern technologies are increasingly being used in the field of rescue services. The proof is the new mobile application Rescue Shoring CZ and the website rescueshoring.cz. Thanks to it, fire protection units have a comprehensive, easily accessible and practically usable tool for the effective and safe stabilization of statically disturbed or collapsed structures. The application and website are interconnected, so if the application administrator makes adjustments, the website will also change.                                                                                                           

Involvement of members of the population protection and crisis management of the Fire Rescue Service of the Olomouc Region in flood management

In the last five years, the Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic has been exposed to rather "non-standard" types of emergencies and crisis situations at the strategic management level. This changed in September 2024, when the territory of the Czech Republic was affected by floods. With regard to the extent and impacts of heavy rainfall, the territory of Moravia, specifically the territory of the Olomouc and Moravian-Silesian regions, was particularly affected. In many places in these regions, the course and especially the impacts of the flood situation were far more serious than in 1997. After almost 30 years, we were reminded how catastrophic and physically and mentally extremely demanding floods can be.