IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON THE OPERATION OF THE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTING ORGANIZATION IN SLOVENIA

Abstract

An effective system of protection against natural and other disasters is of key importance for ensuring the safety of citizens. This is particularly evident in the event of major disasters, which have recently become more frequent and intense, mainly due to climate change. The volunteer firefighting organization in Slovenia plays the most important role in the protection and rescue system, as volunteer firefighters must be constantly ready to act at any time and in any place in the event of a disaster. The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent restrictive measures in 2020 and 2021 had a strong impact on many of the activities of the firefighting organization and consequently on the readiness of operational units for emergencies, as well as on other activities through which people are involved in the work of the organization. The consequences are already visible, especially in the provision of volunteer personnel in the operational structures, which will be a major challenge for the management of the organization in the future. Local authorities and the state play an important role here, and in such crises, they must direct their action plans and measures towards maintaining the protection and rescue system, thus preventing the erosion of volunteerism.