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Rescue service operators and responsibilities Rescue departments carry out rescue service duties in their respective regions There are 21 regional rescue departments in Finland. Rescue departments carry out rescue service duties in their respectiv...

Rescue services The Ministry of the Interior guides and directs emergency response centre operations, and prepares related legislation. The aim is to build a safe and crisis-resilient Finland. There are 21 regional rescue departments in Finland, w...

Government Programme measures to reform rescue services and emergency response centre operations The Government aims to ensure high-quality rescue services throughout the country. Rescue services must be of high quality and carried out in a unifor...

Government Programme measures to reform rescue services and emergency response centre operations The Government aims to ensure high-quality rescue services throughout the country. Rescue services must be of high quality and carried out in a unifor...

22.12.2025 | The start of 2026 will see the entry into force of new acts and decrees. This press release provides a summary of the most important changes in the Ministry of the Interior’s government branch.

27.3.2025 | The Ministry of the Interior has published a nation-wide report on how well the targets set for rescue services and their finances have been achieved in the wellbeing services counties. The report recommends that the counties focus on recruitment of rescuers and preparedness for civil defence. They should also step up their efforts on incident and accident prevention with a view to reducing the number of incidents, accidents and fires across Finland.

23.3.2023 | Several amendments will made to the Rescue Act and the Act on the Emergency Services Academy. For example, the obligation to purchase and maintain smoke detectors in apartments will be transferred from the residents to the owner of the building from the beginning of 2026.

7.7.2022 | A new national information system for incident and accident prevention will be procured for the rescue services. The purpose of the procurement is to enhance, harmonise and make transparent the processes of incident and accident prevention, data transfer and practices in rescue services and to enable electronic services for customers. The reform aims to improve the effectiveness of incident and accident prevention and the equality among clients.

4.5.2021 | The Ministry of the Interior has appointed an investigation commission to investigate a building fire in Kerimäki on 1 May 2021, where one member of a contract fire brigade was seriously injured.

17.2.2023 | Finland will send fire engines, an ambulance, a tanker truck and equipment needed for rescue operations to Ukraine on Friday 17 February. These vehicles and equipment were donated by the Rescue Departments of Central Uusimaa and Pirkanmaa. Assistance will be delivered to Ukraine through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

18.10.2022 | The Ministry of the Interior has sent out for comments a draft proposal on the levels and system of qualifications and degree programmes in rescue services and emergency response centre operations. The draft proposal contains two alternatives for education and training in rescue services and one for education and training in emergency response centre operations. Comments on the draft will be accepted until 14 November 2022.

22.12.2021 | The Ministry of the Interior has issued decrees on the chargeable services of Pelastusopisto – Emergency Services Academy Finland and the Emergency Response Centre Agency. The decrees will enter into force on 1 January 2022.

22.9.2022 | The Government proposes several amendments to the Rescue Act and the Act on the Emergency Services Academy. For example, it is proposed that the obligation to purchase and maintain smoke detectors in apartments be transferred from residents to building owners.

27.3.2019 | When fighting forest fires, it is essential to ensure smooth cooperation between authorities and other operators. This applies to both preparedness for forest fires and extinguishing work if a fire occurs. Emergency services authorities, representatives from the Finnish Meteorological Institute and forestry sector operators are meeting today at a seminar hosted by the Finnish Association of Fire Chi...

1.8.2018 | Sweden has requested Finland to continue to help in extinguishing forest fires in the country. The Ministry of the Interior made a decision on 1 August to continue the assistance until 10 August. The rescue team working in Sweden comprises about 30 people and rescue gear such as fire engines, water tenders, motor pumps and all-terrain vehicles.

13.10.2020 | The Ministerial Working Group on Health and Social Services has reviewed the comments received during the consultation round, organised from 15 June to 25 September, on the health and social services reform and outlined policies and made changes to the draft government proposal. The draft bill will be submitted to the Finnish Council of Regulatory Impact Analysis (FCRIA) on 14 October 2020. The Government proposal is due to be submitted to Parliament in early December 2020.

15.8.2018 | This year’s record-breaking dry and hot summer has meant that Finland has been exceptionally prone to forest fires. The number of forest fires has been considerably higher than before, and fires have been more extensive than in an average year. There have been large forest fires in Southwest Finland, Lapland and Ostrobothnia. We have, however, managed them well. Minister of the Interior Kai Mykkänen wishes to thank all Finnish rescue workers for a job well done.

27.7.2018 | Late Thursday evening Sweden accepted Finland’s offer to help in extinguishing forest fires in the country. Finland will send a self-sufficient rescue team with equipment to Sweden. The team will comprise about 30 people and rescue gear such as fire engines, water tenders, motor pumps and all-terrain vehicles. According to preliminary estimates, the rescue personnel will arrive in Sweden by Saturday morning and start working in central Sweden as soon as possible following their arrival.

15.6.2020 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of the Interior request comments on the draft government proposal concerning the health and social services reform and the organisation of rescue services. The act would lay down provisions on, for example the organisation of rescue services, and the system of management and coordination as well as development and oversight of rescue services.

8.12.2020 | According to the government proposal, the wellbeing services counties and the City of Helsinki would be responsible for organising rescue services in their respective areas starting at the beginning of 2023. Contract fire brigades could be used to provide these services as at present. The role of central government guidance and direction in rescue services would be strengthened.