Prime Minister Jüri Ratas visited the Nõmme rescue unit of the Estonian Rescue Board. Kuno Tammearu, Director General of the Rescue Board, gave the prime minister an overview of the past year in the area of rescue work, the most important projects of the new year, and visions for the development of the area of administration. 

“I wish to acknowledge the contribution of all employees of the Rescue Board and the volunteer rescuers towards the wellbeing of the people of Estonia – this is highly important in several different areas. Firstly, of course, we all think of daily rescue work: responding to emergencies.

However, the work that the Rescue Board does to prevent deaths and property damage, raise awareness among the public, and communicate with individuals and communities is also highly important. The result of these activities is reflected in the trust that the people of Estonia have in the Rescue Board – it is stable at around 95%,” said Prime Minister Jüri Ratas.

One of the most important endeavours of the Rescue Board this year is the project “Ensure fire safety in your home”, the aim of which is to support fixing the heating and electrical systems of the homes of people with difficulties in coping. “There are approximately 5,000 residential premises in Estonia, the heating or electrical systems of which are in critical condition. This is a clear threat to human lives. The Government has allocated 1.5 million euros to help people who do not have the means to eliminate the risks in their homes themselves. This way, we can improve the fire safety of Estonian homes,” said Kuno Tammearu, Director General of the Rescue Board.

In cooperation with local governments, the Rescue Board plans to increase the volume of the project significantly. “This is the first time that the Government is supporting fixing domestic heating elements and solving fire safety problems on such a large scale. We commend the preparedness of several local governments to also contribute to helping people,” the prime minister added.

Prime Minister Ratas and Director General Kuno Tammearu also discussed the sustainability and future plans of the Rescue Board. “I am glad that the state budget of 2018 will grant an additional 1.5 million euros to the salary fund of the Rescue Board and believe that we must continue to support them in the future, as well. It is very important to increase the salaries of our rescuers alongside investing in protective equipment and rescue technology as well as in supporting volunteer rescuers. Motivated and dedicated employees as well as modern technology are crucial to ensure safety in our environment.”