The Rescue Department of Southern Ostrobothnia

The Rescue Department of Southern Ostrobothnia is one of Finland's 22 regional rescue departments. It is responsible for carrying out tasks such as monitoring and inspections of fire prevention measures, fire and rescue operations and medical rescue operations in South Ostrobothnia. The department is also in charge of maintaining and developing emergency risk analysis for the rescue services, planning and making preparations for emergencies as well as planning and developing civil defence measures and resources.

Our region includes 19 municipalities:
Seinäjoki, Alajärvi, Alavus, Evijärvi, Ilmajoki, Isojoki, Jalasjärvi, Karijoki, Kauhajoki, Kauhava, Kuortane, Kurikka, Lappajärvi, Lapua, Soini, Teuva, Töysä, Vimpeli, Ähtäri.

The Rescue Department of Southern Ostrobothnia is a corporation of The City of Seinäjoki. The rescue services are administered by The City of Seinäjoki council, the municipal government, the regional rescue board and the rescue director.

The department is headed by the Rescue Director.
The organisation of the department includes two separate operational areas:

• Risk management area, which is headed by Rescue Manager, Kari Pajuluoma
• Resource management area, which is headed by Rescue Manager, Harri Setälä

The Rescue Department of Southern Ostrobothnia has 30 Rescue Stations, 120 full-time employees and ca. 820 volunteer fire fighters.

Rescue services in Finland

The body that leads and oversees rescue services in Finland is the Ministry of the Interior's Rescue Department. The State Provincial Office's Rescue Department, in turn, is in charge of the corresponding tasks within the province. Individual municipalities are jointly responsible for providing rescue services in areas determined by the Council of State. There are 22 rescue service areas in Finland. The rescue operations and other related tasks in these areas are carried out by regional rescue departments. Volunteer fire brigades as well as separate fire fighting units in facilities and factories take part in performing these tasks according to the agreement they have made with the rescue service providers in the area.

Rescue services in Finland employ some 24,000 persons of which ca. 5,000 are full-time employees, ca. 15,000 are volunteers and 4,000 are part-time workers.

Regional rescue departments

At the beginning of 2004, the rescue service functions that had, prior to this, been the responsibility of individual municipalities were assigned to the 22 regional rescue departments. The regional rescue departments must maintain and uphold the rescue service system which is in place to enable the provision of rescue services, distribute knowledge and guidance regarding rescue services, provide expert consultation in matters concerning rescue services, perform the tasks that are expected of rescue authorities, such as accident prevention, damage limitation and fire inspections carry out rescue operations and all related tasks, do their part in performing tasks related to civil defence and maintain the state of preparedness required by them, act as an intermediary to fit together the operations of various authorities and other parties that take part in providing rescue services and do their part in training new rescue service personnel.

Additional information about rescue services in Finland:
Ministry of the Interior, Rescue services in Finland