State Fire Service


State Fire Service is a fire fighting professional service of Poland. It is subordinate to the Ministry of Interior. History of fire fighting services in Poland dates to the medieval times. The modern State Fire Service is based on the 1992 legislation.
State Fire Service is a professional firefighting service that covers whole territory from their stations in cities and towns. In all the second-level unit of local government and administration in Poland - powiat, fire brigades operating like Komenda Powiatowa Państwowej Straży Pożarnej with fire brigade command and also one or several fire stations. They belong to the 16 main Voivodeships departments headquarters.
Professional firefighters units respond immediately after the alarm although in the districts are often assisted by volunteers associated in Voluntary Fire Service with more like 15 700 fire stations in Poland. OSP units are called only if it necessary for help professional firefighters units.

Structure

Each Provincial Headquarters supervises District Headquarters and fire-fighting units.
In Poland local inhabitants may create not professional a Voluntary Fire Service under proper law. Such volunteer fire service may receive a financial help from the government for the equipment and staff training. In certain areas of Poland almost every town and village has a volunteer fire service. Volunteer fire service is fully integrated with the emergency system. Any call to fire emergency number is routed to the nearest State Fire Service station in powiat. After the alarm, the volunteers going to the fire station and then responding.

Ranks and rank insignia

Source:
Firefighters from State Fire Service use red helmets. Firefighters from Voluntary Fire Service use white helmets.