Due to a lack of personnel, the State Fire and Rescue Service (VUGD) will temporarily and periodically suspend operations at certain less busy stations if necessary to ensure the operation of other units and stations. The VUGD will continue to respond to calls to the same extent as before, and the nearest available units will be dispatched to incidents. Assistance will continue to be provided to the public in situations that threaten health and life.

It is currently planned that the suspension of operations could affect 18 stations, and this will not happen simultaneously; the frequency and duration of the suspension at each station will depend on the personnel situation. In Kurzeme, these stations are Roja, Sabile, Piltene and Alsunga; in the Riga region, Bulduri and Baldone; in Zemgale, Jaunjelgava, Nereta, Eleja, Aknīste, Viesīte and Auce; in Vidzeme, Cesvaine, Varakļāni, Mazsalaca and Strenči; and in Latgale, the Zilupe and Tilža stations.

“The current situation regarding staff shortages is critical because employees cannot live at the station. Overtime is not the norm; it should only be acceptable in emergency situations. The Ministry of the Interior has reported the situation in the interior services to the government several times in recent years. Staff shortages exist not only in the VUGD but also in other services, which is why, for long-term internal security, it is necessary to allocate appropriate funding, just as for defense, at least 2.5% of the gross domestic product. This way, we will be able to systematically develop the services, protect our citizens and ensure effective security measures, attract new employees to the sector and retain existing ones, as well as ensure appropriate infrastructure and equipment,” emphasizes Interior Minister Kristaps Eklons.

“The VUGD has long been looking for a solution to maintain the quality of service provided to the public without compromising the health and safety of firefighters,” emphasizes VUGD Chief General O. Āboliņš. “Suspending the operations of certain stations is a last resort, but the 12% vacancy rate—or a shortage of nearly 400 employees as of early October—combined with the long-term absence of 160 employees due to incapacity for work, parental leave, etc., leaves us no choice. The VUGD cannot compete in the labour market in terms of remuneration, and the expected rise in prices and costs prevents us not only from attracting new employees but also from retaining existing professionals. We currently no longer have a sufficient number of firefighters to ensure that every 24-hour period in all units and stations, three officers can depart in a fire engine to a call, which is the absolute minimum according to occupational safety requirements.”