RUBRIIK ESTONIAN RESCUE BOARD – YEARBOOK 2019 1 Publisher: Estonian Rescue Board Raua 2, 10124 Tallinn Layout: Profimeedia OÜ Copy editing: Killu Mei Cover photograph: Taavi Prints Print: Ecoprint CONTENTS FOREWORD 4 ORGANISATION 6 FIGURES AND FACTS 11 MAIN EVENTS 22 OUR IMAGE 32 INTERNATIONAL 34 COOPERATION 32 HISTORY 38 ESTONIAN RESCUE BOARD – YEARBOOK 2019 3 FOREWORD FOTO: SANDER ILVEST, POSTIMEES 2019: a busy anniversary KUNO TAMMEARU, year. Director General of the Estonian Rescue Board he last year of the 21st century’s second and phone connection for several days at the end decade can be described as a year dedi- of October. Some households had to wait for a cated to preparing for crises. In early week for electricity to be restored. spring, residents of Estonia received in- Long-term interruptions of vital services – electric- Tstructions for behaving in a crisis. This was initiated ity, water supply, sewage, as well as mobile and data by the Ministry of the Interior. Our experts laid out connection – can be caused both by the nature and details of preparing for crises, from what to stock humans. The outcome is the same – it significantly up at home to how to behave in an emergency. Sev- affects out normal living arrangements and if we are eral people who received these instructions won- not prepared, we will quickly find ourselves in trouble dered if we are heading for a war if that much effort and in need of help. A crisis is characterised by unex- was being put into raising awareness. The second pectedness, meaning that all parties – individuals, half of the year showed us what a crisis means: the community, the local government, and the state stormy winds left South-East Estonia with no power – must be prepared. I hope that all the parties 4 ESTONIAN RESCUE BOARD – YEARBOOK 2019 FOREWORD learned something from last year’s storms. Estonian for a state agency which is not known for its high Rescue Board has spent years ensuring our continu- wages. This goes to show that wages are only one ity and crisis preparedness and this was and is one of aspect that people consider when choosing their our core issues both last year and in this year. careers. They want to join the Estonian Rescue Aside from serious topics, the Estonian Rescue Board because our mission and vision are clear for Board has also had cause for celebration. The year both the agency as well as the public. Each of our 2019 marked 100 years from the foundation of or- employees is part of rescue operations and every- ganised firefighting. In the first conference of -fire one contributes to making Estonia safer. The peo- fighters, volunteer and professional firefighters ple who join us share the same values. founded a joint national firefighters’ union and We care about our people. One of our biggest agreed on the common principles of firefighting. concerns in the Esto- Hundred years later, Estonia is covered by a nian Rescue Board is common rescue network and firefighting is part of By taking care of and greater and more rescue operations. Rescue operations in turn form systematic support a part of a wider promotion of safety culture in Es- supporting our people, of the mental and tonia. We rescue people from fire and water, from we ensure that one of the physical health of heights and depths, we clear chemical pollution and our employees. Yes, remove explosives. We provide safety-related ad- pillars of safety in we have a discussion KUNO TAMMEARU, vice to approximately 23,000 Estonian households about the wages of Director General of the Estonian Rescue Board Estonia – the rescue and train thousands of children and youths. service – will be here for rescue workers in One of the most significant milestones from the our society, but we last year was undoubtedly the end of the first stage another hundred years. should also talk more of the project ‘500 fireproof homes’ (‘500 kodu tuleo- about health, pre- hutuks’), where we ended up making 663 homes vention of burnout, and maximum number of fireproof in collaboration with local governments. healthy life years. That is why the other core issue of We achieved this thanks to those local governments this year is supporting the health of our people by who gave more than expected to ensure the safety extending their possibilities to engage in sports and of their residents. Thank you! I am very happy to get psychological counselling. By taking care of and continue this project this year as well. Only by work- supporting our people, we ensure that one of the ing together will we achieve the level of fire safety pillars of safety in Estonia – the rescue service – will and damages of the Nordic countries by 2025. be here for another hundred years. At the beginning of the year, the Estonian Rescue Enjoy reading the yearbook! Board was awarded the Dream Employer title. This Kuno Tammearu, is a great recognition and somewhat unexpected Director General of the Estonian Rescue Board ESTONIAN RESCUE BOARD – YEARBOOK 2019 5 RUBRIIK ORGANISATION he Estonian Rescue Board is a governmen- 59 services, including 28 main and 31 support ser- tal institution under the Ministry of the In- vices. terior’s area of government. As of 31 De- The day-to-day readiness of the Estonian Rescue cember 2019, the Estonian Rescue Board Board is based on 72 national brigades, 4 explosive Thad 2,048 employees, making it the third largest ordnance disposal teams, 117 volunteer rescue bri- public sector body in Estonia. gades, and the Northern and Eastern Reserve Res- The Estonian Rescue Board has five key areas: cue Brigade. Our 300 professional and 200 volun- prevention work, safety surveillance, rescue work, teer rescuers guarantee emergency response 24/7, explosive ordnance disposal, and emergency man- our forces are able to reach 95% of the population agement. The Estonian Rescue Board has a total of in 15 minutes. .. 6 ESTONIAN RESCUE BOARD – YEARBOOK 2019 ORGANISATION A Country-wide Network Estonia is covered by a rescue network that in 2019 consisted of 1,623 professional rescu- ers and more than 2,000 volunteers, i.e. al- most 3,700 people. Last year, the volunteer rescuers went on 3,493 dispatches, which was slightly less than in the year before. .... THE ESTONIAN RESCUE BOARD AS AN ORGANISATION 2048 EMPLOYEES, incl. 2069 1623 VOLUNTEER PROF. RESCUERS RESCUERS 72 117 NATIONAL VOLUNTEER RESCUE BRIGADES RESCUE BRIGADES AVERAGE TIME 26 647 OF RESPONSE TO 4 EMERGENCY CALLS, incl. EXPLOSIVE A LIFE-SAVING EVENT: ORDNANCE 15 198 DISPOSAL TEAMS RESCUE EVENTS 8 min 56 sec 322 22 418 195 635 753 PEOPLE HOME COUNCELLING EUROS WORTH OF PROPERTY RESCUED SESSIONS DAMAGE PREVENTED ESTONIAN RESCUE BOARD – YEARBOOK 2019 7 ORGANISATION THE ESTONIAN RESCUE BOARD AS AN ORGANISATION88 TOTAL NUMBER OF DISPATCHES Total number of dispatches 35 106 9+3 + Total: 39 617 Volunteer res- 3493 cue brigades Operative teams THE ESTONIAN RESCUE BOARD’S ACTIVITIES Responding Surveillance work In 15 minutes, we can reach 95% of the Estonian population Prevention 96% Third POPULATION’S largest 34+33 TRUST GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY THE ESTONIAN RESCUE BOARD’S MAIN AREAS OF OPERATION PREVENTION SAFETY RESCUE EXPLOSIVE EMERGENCY SURVEILLANCE WORK ORDNANCE DISPOSAL MANAGEMENT 8 ESTONIAN RESCUE BOARD – YEARBOOK 2019 ORGANISATION VOLUNTEER NUMBER OF Total number of all VOLUNTEER rescue events: RESCUE NETWORK RESCUERS 2019 2069 15 198 In the upcoming years, the Estonian Rescue Arrival time Board aims to develop the skills of volunteer res- PARTICIPATED cue workers, improve their funding and equip- IN EVENTS: ment, double their numbers, and involve them 0:16:45,8 more, primarily in prevention activities. We can only reach our goal of bringing the number of ac- 2859 cidents and damages down to the level of the Nordic countries by 2025 if we all work together. 17% SOLVED Number of The more people with safety-related skills and INDEPENDENTLY: home counselling knowledge we have who know their community sessions: and take care of the safety of their loved ones and 1005 3902 neighbours, the safer we can make Estonia. .... ESTONIAN RESCUE BOARD – YEARBOOK 2019 9 ORGANISATION 10 years have passed since smoke detectors became mandatory The year 2019 marked the ten-year anniversary of making smoke detectors mandatory in dwellings. According to the most recent survey of the fire-safe- ty awareness index, 92% of Estonian homes had a smoke detector in 2019, which is 4% more than in 2017. Generally, the situation of and attitudes towards fire safety have improved every year in Estonia, which is also backed up by statistics. The Estonian Rescue Board started systematic prevention activi- ties with different age groups (children, adults, the elderly) in 2006. The results of the prevention activ- ities manifested quickly – while in 2006, 164 people, i.e. 12.2 per 100,000 inhabitants died in a fire, this figure in 2009 was 63 people, i.e. 3.7 per 100,000 inhabitants. The numbers dropped 2.5 times; how- ever, there were still too many people who died in their homes, which is why smoke detectors were made mandatory. The Nordic countries were used as role models here. Rescue As of 2018, homes which use gas devices must also workers have a carbon monoxide detector. Pursuant to the However, a smoke detector can only save one’s life if checking draft to amend the Fire Safety Act, which is currently smoke it is in working order. This is why it is now time to re- being discussed in the Riigikogu, carbon monoxide detectors. place the smoke detectors that were installed ten detectors will also become mandatory for all homes years ago, as their service life is coming to an end.