National fire protection strategy for the period from 2013 to 2022.

This National fire protection strategy of the Republic of Croatia for the period from the year 2013 until the year 2022 here sets the basis for fire protection/prevention measures and determines related objectives, among risk analysis and evaluation of potential hazards. The main goals of the development of the fire protection system and priorities through preventive and operational action are: reduce the number of fires, reduce the number of victims, reduce material damage caused by indirect and direct effects of fire, improve the firefighting system and redefine the status of firefighters. In order to achieve the set goals, it is necessary to: complete the harmonization of legal regulations in the field of prevention with the legal acquis of the European Union, which will regulate the operational (curative) action of human and material-technical resources in fire protection while respecting the principle of subsidiarity and integrity of all resources; by legal provisions, ensure the financing of fire protection (from the budget of local and regional self-government units, the state budget of the Republic of Croatia, legal entities with public powers, economic legal entities liable for fire protection, from insurance premiums of insurance companies, from compensation for the use of general utility functions of forests, through program documents for the period from 2014 to 2020, using funds from the structural instruments of the European Union - the European Fund for Regional Development, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund, as well as donations and other sources); training and education of professional staff for preventive implementation of fire protection, as well as operational activities (inspection services, fire brigade employees - professional and voluntary, employees in the economy, the population); education through primary, secondary and higher education (scientific institutions, faculties, etc.); through education through technical faculties (mechanical engineering, construction, architectural, chemical, electrical engineering and others) to ensure the implementation of fire protection during the design of complex and diverse buildings and industrial plants; education at higher education institutions whose field of work is biotechnical, and is related to open space (forestry, agricultural and other faculties); establish a single firefighting service headed by a state body in charge of firefighting with a clearly established line of command, financing, education and professional training; develop methodologies for determining the number and type of firefighters in the fire department in the economy and in local self-government units with the types and quantities of firefighting equipment; maintain and acquire the necessary material and technical resources and equipment for preventive and operational action and conduct training and education of human resources; informing and sensitizing the domestic public and tourists about the importance of undertaking and implementing fire protection measures and responsible behaviour, especially in the summer months and during the tourist and harvest season; create comprehensive records of buildings and spaces of importance for the Republic of Croatia for the purpose of continuous inspection and monitoring of the implementation of fire protection measures in them; achieve stronger cooperation of all state bodies and institutions and jointly strengthen the implementation of inspections and other supervisory reviews.
As regards the implications of forest protection, this text states that when emphasizing the threats implied by the operation of the firefighting system, in addition to the general existing threats, the increased danger of forest fires during the summer in the coastal part of the Republic of Croatia can be emphasized. Forest fires need to be singled out because, during the summer, such interventions require the engagement of significant material, technical and personnel potential from the entire country. The goal of firefighting development is effective action in the implementation of preventive fire and explosion protection measures, extinguishing fires and rescuing people and property, providing technical assistance in all types of threats, extinguishing larger and longer-lasting fires (large forest fires, fuel tank fires, etc.), action during other more complex events (accidents with dangerous substances, natural disasters, traffic accidents, assistance to other countries). For the realization of the goals of development, it is important to prepare appropriate legal regulations and material, technical and personnel support. It is necessary to enable unity of action and effective management in the event of major accidents and disasters, as well as the operation of units throughout the entire territory of the Republic of Croatia, with a clearly defined provision of material, technical, personnel and financial resources. In addition, forest fires in open coastal areas significantly affect the global safety of tourist destinations.