Zagreb firefighters saved 52 lives last year, but fatalities in fires jumped by a staggering 80%. See the most challenging interventions

Zagreb's firefighters faced a demanding year in 2023, undertaking over 4,000 interventions across the city. The Public Fire Department of the City of Zagreb bore the brunt of this workload, managing 3,270 of the total 4,026 incidents. These calls ranged from rescuing individuals trapped in vehicles and collapsed structures to battling blazes and responding to hazardous material situations. The data, set to be presented to the City Assembly, paints a picture of a service constantly on call, dealing with the diverse emergencies that arise in a major urban center.

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More than 4,000 interventions, rescuing people from fires, car accidents and rubble, a dramatic increase in the number of fatalities in fires, and one of the biggest security challenges in the city's history – Marko Perković Thompson's concert with almost half a million visitors at the Hippodrome. All this marked the past year for Zagreb firefighters.

While the statistics highlight the critical role firefighters play in public safety – evidenced by the 52 lives saved, particularly from traffic accidents where 31 individuals were rescued – they also underscore a deeply concerning trend. The number of fatalities in fires saw a dramatic increase of nearly 80% compared to the previous year, with 25 deaths recorded. Concurrently, injuries among civilians also rose by approximately 30%, with 142 people injured. Even the firefighters themselves were not immune, with 16 sustaining injuries during operations, training, and even routine physical activities.

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The greatest burden is still carried by the Public Fire Department of the City of Zagreb, which handled 3,270 interventions on its own.

Beyond emergency responses, Zagreb's firefighters were integral to the security of numerous large-scale public events. They provided crucial support for everything from the Advent markets and music festivals like INmusic to sporting events and military parades. A particularly notable event mentioned was the security detail for Marko Perković Thompson's concert, which drew an estimated half a million attendees and presented a significant logistical and safety challenge. This comprehensive report details the bravery and dedication of Zagreb's firefighters, acknowledging their life-saving efforts while also sounding an alarm about the escalating risks and tragic outcomes associated with fires in the city.

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Most work for firefighters was in technical interventions, of which there were as many as 1,652.