Number of Volunteer Rescuers Doubles in 5 Years
Over the last five years, the number of volunteer rescuers around the nation has increased from 500 to 1,100, the Ministry of the Interior has said.
Currently, there are around 85 voluntary rescue brigades operating in Estonia, which is 20 more than in 2007, said Priit Laaniste, deputy head of the ministry's Rescue and Crisis Management Department, adding that the state has made a number of legislative changes in recent years to facilitate the volunteer work.
This year, the state allocated 445,470 euros to the Rescue Board for supporting voluntary brigades, which is 52 percent more than in 2011, Postimees reported. An additional 70,000 euros will go to the Voluntary Rescue Union - a sum twice that of last year's allotment.
This year, nine national rescue squads will be closed in an affort to increase the overall efficiency of rescue operations. According to Laaniste, some of the equipment from the above-mentioned squads will be redirected to the voluntary brigades.
Ingrid Teesalu