The document was signed by the Minister of the Interior Agnė Bilotaitė, Molėtai District Mayor Saulius Jauneika and Director of the Fire Protection and Rescue Department (PAGD) Saulius Greičius.
In order to create a unified system, the Ministry of the Interior has invited the country’s municipalities to voluntarily participate in testing it – the Radviliškis Fire and Rescue Service has joined the pilot model.
Molėtai became the second municipality in the country whose fire and rescue service is connected to PAGD.
“Quality help during fire and other disasters must reach people on time. The current two-level Fire Safety Assurance System is inefficient, more complicated to administer, and more expensive. We are making changes because we measure the cost of an inefficient system in human lives, so we have initiated a centralized pilot model, which is already being successfully applied by the Radviliškis district municipality,” said A. Bilotaitė.
According to the ministry, the purpose of this contract is to consolidate the forces of the state fire rescue service and the fire service of the Molėtai district municipality in order to ensure the high-quality performance of the fire safety function and its continuity.
The aim of the unified system is to improve the preparation of the fire rescue forces in the municipalities – the forces could arrive at the scene in a shorter time, they would be fully equipped with working and protective equipment and be able to perform a wider range of rescue work.
Mayor: will meet expectations
According to S. Jauneika, the coordinated activity of firefighters will more effectively and purposefully meet the expectations of the residents of the district in the event of an emergency and will contribute to the smoothness of rescue operations.
“Joint coordination of actions and joint coordination of preparations, provision of firefighters with special equipment and techniques, will apparently give completely different results than acting separately,” he said after signing the contract.
According to the mayor, there were no fears about the unified system, because the wishes and wishes of the firefighters were listened to, and the district council unanimously approved joining the model.
“When you put all the points together and say that the employment relationship continues, that the working conditions will improve, that there will be an additional person in the team and that there will always be two on call per team (…), plus the increase in wages and all the other things, there is additional training for physical for preparation. Actually, none of the firefighters resisted,” said S. Jauneika.
Will provide results
The pilot project in Radviliškis district municipality started in January 2023, according to the minister, during its implementation, the social guarantee of firefighters and the continuity of service were maintained.
“No, it’s not really stuck. Of course, we do not expect a large number of municipalities to participate in the pilot, this is the essence of the pilot project, the fact that several municipalities are participating and after some time we can evaluate the results and provide relevant decisions accordingly”, said A. Bilotaitė.
According to her, the evaluation of the Radviliškis district pilot project will be presented in the near future, at that time, S. Greičius indicated that the model has proven itself and is effective.
“In Radviliški, all incidents were responded to one hundred percent, two employees each, in all cases two employees were also on duty (…). The main thing is the safety of the residents and the safety of the firefighters themselves. It is clear that when firefighters arrive, they can perform firefighting and rescue work with a significantly higher quality, and their own safety is also significantly higher,” he said.
According to the head of the PAGD, 11 training programs included training on how to work with hydraulic rescue equipment, defibrillators, and organized stress management, suicide, recognition and prevention programs.
“For many firefighters, it was probably the most intense six months of training in their lives,” he said.
According to the Minister of the Interior, the pilot model will help to improve the training and equipment of Molėtai district municipal firefighters, raise their professional qualifications, increase their wages, as well as ensure a more prompt response of the forces to disasters and provide a basis for further changes that increase public safety in the area.
“It was primarily a fear of the officers themselves. I must point out that the officers will be fired, as shown by the Radviliškis model, that not a single officer was fired, they all continue to work, they all received additional equipment, training, and also in terms of financial expression, their salaries increased to 200 euros”, – A. Bilotaitė spoke.
The country currently has a two-tier fire safety and rescue system consisting of the Fire Protection and Rescue Department (PAGD) and the Municipal Fire Services (SPT), but the Ministry of the Interior says that this model is insufficiently efficient and effective and proposes to replace it with this new initiative .
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What are the potential cost savings associated with a unified fire service system in Lithuania?
## Lithuanian Fire Services Undergoing “Unified System” Pilot Program
**Today, we have with us Minister of the Interior Agnė Bilotaitė to discuss a new initiative aimed at improving fire safety and response across Lithuania.**
Minister Bilotaitė, thank you for joining us. Can you tell us more about this “Unified System” for fire services?
**Minister Bilotaitė:**
Absolutely. The current system is decentralized, which can lead to inefficiencies and challenges in coordinating efforts. This new unified system aims to consolidate forces – bringing together the state fire rescue service and local municipal services.
This means better training, enhanced equipment, and faster response times for residents across rural Lithuania.
**Our viewers are likely curious about how this system will be implemented. Could you share some details about the pilot program?**
**Minister Bilotaitė:**
We’ve already launched a pilot program with the Radviliškis District municipality, which has been successful. Right now, we’re are expanding the program to include Molėtai District. Participation is voluntary, and we are learning valuable lessons from these early adopters.
We’re evaluating the impact on response times, firefighter preparedness, and most importantly, the safety of our citizens.
**What are the key benefits of this unified approach for both firefighters and the communities they serve?**
**Minister Bilotaitė:
For firefighters, it means better training, access to cutting-edge technology, and improved working conditions. For communities, it translates to faster response times, a more robust and coordinated response to emergencies, and ultimately, increased safety.
**Molėtai District Mayor Saulius Jauneika mentioned that the firefighters’ wants and needs were carefully considered during this process. Could you elaborate on this collaborative approach?**
**Minister Bilotaitė:**
Absolutely. This isn’t just about merging services. This is a collaborative effort. We’re working closely with local mayors, fire chiefs, and most importantly, the firefighters on the ground. Their input has been crucial in shaping the program and ensuring its success.
**The pilot programs are still ongoing. What are your hopes for the future of this unified system in Lithuania?**
**Minister Bilotaitė:**
Our hope is that this unified system will become the new standard for fire safety and response across Lithuania. By pooling our resources, embracing innovation, and focusing on collaboration, we can ensure the safety and well-being of all our citizens.
**Thank you, Minister Bilotaitė, for outlining this important initiative. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this new system will have.**
