Abstract
Aim: Presenting the role and place of the Voluntary Fire Service in the National Rescue and Firefighting System.
Introduction: In Poland, rescue is mainly organized in the National Rescue and Firefighting System. It is an open system, closely cooperating with the surroundings. It has operated since 1995 and it was created to meet the needs arising from natural human behavior and in particular to ensure people’s safety. Limits within which the system functions are very flexible. It provides optimization of operations and effectiveness and efficiency of forces and means used to conduct simple, uncomplicated actions as well as specific, large and long-term actions. A distinctive feature of the national rescue and firefighting system is its mass character, and that results from including many units of the Volunteer Fire Service in this system. Their number is exceeds multiple times the number of fire and rescue units of the State Fire Service (SFS).
Methodology: Analysis of literature within the scope of task-related and functional matters related to the National Rescue and Fire Fighting System in terms of newer types of threats being the result of the rapid development of civilization in the units of the Volunteer Fire Services.
Conclusions: Structural and organizational solutions of the National Rescue and Firefighting System allow efficient use of organizational, technical and intellectual potential of all rescue and cooperating entities, which leads to the fact that the system does not constitute an isolated component of public safety, but is an important factor responsive to any changes and efficiently cooperates with the surroundings. Maintaining a uniform system of notification, coordination and support to ensure the effectiveness of rescue operations, financing equipment purchases for individuals, included in the Voluntary Fire Service in the National Rescue and Firefighting System, conditioned by the possession of at least 12 trained rescuers meeting the criteria for participation in direct rescue operations, are some of the conclusions presented in the article. If the conclusions of the article are executed, the activities of the Volunteer Fire Service in the National Fire and Rescue System will be more efficient. Conclusions will be implemented to improve the effectiveness of rescue operations by the Voluntary Fire Service units that can reach a place of incident much faster than the Rescue and Firefighting units of the State Fire Service.
Keywords: Voluntary Fire Service, National Rescue and Firefighting System, system of selective alarm
Type of article: review article