Israel Fire and Rescue Services

The Israel Fire and Rescue Services (Hebrew: כבאות והצלה לישראל, "Kaba'ut VeHatzala Le'Israel"; also שירותי כבאות להצלה, "Sherutei Kaba'ut VeHatzala") is the national Israeli fire and rescue organization. The organisation also provides rescue services from terror attacks, car accident and dangerous substance spillages, along with Magen David Adom, the National EMS. They are also involved in public education and awareness campaigns. The service is accessed by calling "102" from any phone. As of 2022, the director of the services is Eyal Casspi.
Organization.
There are 24 metro regions that have central major fire stations with supplemental smaller stations in neighboring villages and cities. After the 2010 Mount Carmel forest fire where many prison guards, civilians, police officer and two firefighters were killed, the government decided to create the Israel's Fire and Rescue Authority and organized the fire service on a national level like the police. The Israel Fire and Rescue Services consists of about 2,500 paid, professional firefighters along with an additional 200–400 "fire-scout" volunteers. There are 11 Hazardous Materials Units in Israel. All stations provide auto-extrication and are equipped with the latest gear for rescue and fire suppression. Major stations have a heavy rescue unit and ladder truck company. The fire-rescue apparatus are custom built in Israel at Beit Alfa Technologies of Beit Alpha Kibbutz on chassis of Mercedes-Benz, Man, Iveco, E-One, Chevrolet, and Ford modified to Israeli specifications in Israel. Most apparatus repairs and servicing is done by firefighter/mechanics in-station, as most stations have a fully equipped mechanic garage with lifts, welding equipment, and tools.
Organizational structure.
Until the National Fire and Rescue Authority was established on February 8, 2013, firefighting services relied on 24 city firefighting and rescue associations (four municipal and 20 city union). In areas unrelated to the firefighting and rescue professions or to firefighters, the firefighting authority was part of the local authority to which it belonged, and is subordinate to it. The professional subject was the Firefighting and Rescue Commission. The Commission was headed by a firefighter and rescue officer with the rank of captain.
It is composed of seven districts (North, Hof, Dan, South, Central, Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem), with the head of each district A district commander stands under the commander of the district, all the station commanders and the other firefighters in the district.
Fire stations are divided into three types: a regional station (also called "main station"), under which sub stations can be found ("small stations"). The purpose of the substations is to reduce the time of arrival of the teams and to respond to the event. If the sub-station staff, called for the event, needs immediate further assistance, it reports to the main station and sends additional aid teams. The number of crew members and the number of firefighters in the substations varies according to the quantity available to that district. There are sub stations with two firefighters and one fire truck, as opposed to substations with four firefighters and two fire engines, and so on. The firefighters in the substation must maintain their station, equipment, and fire engines in accordance with the Fire Department's orders, just as in the main station. There are several sub stations that operate in a seasonal format, especially during the summer months in areas where there are many fires.
Another type of station is the spatial station, which also has secondary stations, but it is a smaller station than the main station and the roles are smaller.
The training of firefighters in Israel takes place at the National Fire and Rescue School in its present form, starting in practice in early 1979.
From April 2011, the head of the IAA was headed by Shahar Ayalon, until May 2, 2016, when he was appointed general manager of the Israel Railways. [5] From May 2016 to March 2017, Deputy Commissioner Shimon Ben-Ner Acting Chief of Staff Didi Simchi – Firefighting and Rescue Commissioner and Chief Firefighter.
Most of the fire and rescue services as of 2018 are Rabbi Haim Pearl. In the past they served as rabbis David Simchon and Menachem Perl [6].
Districts.
The Authority is composed of seven districts according to the geographic region. Each district is subject to a number of regional power stations and sub-stations [7].
North
Beach
Center
Ben-Gurion Airport, as an extraterritorial zone, serves as an independent department for Ben-Gurion's fire department.
Dan
Judea and Samaria
Jerusalem
South
Training.
Israeli firefighters are trained at the Israel Fire and Rescue Academy in Rishon LeZion. Almost all Israeli firefighters are certified in Hazardous Materials response and handling, many of whom are trained in the world class Hazmat facilities in the Netherlands, and all have certifications in extrication, heavy rescue, heavy apparatus operation, wildland interface suppression, structure fire suppression and ventilation, as well as search and rescue.
A typical engine crew consists of two firefighters for an automatic fire alarm and other non-structure fire calls, and most structure fire responses consists of two engine crews, a truck company, and a medium-duty rescue/suppression truck that also doubles as a commander's vehicle. Larger incidents may also require a communications vehicle, heavy rescue apparatus, and additional support/command units.
Their radio systems operate on a Motorola Conventional Wide Band System and most firefighters also have beepers and/or motorola walkie-talkie phones.
History.
After a fire in Zikhron Ya'akov in 1897, the first firefighting company was established by the Baron Rothschild. The company had 32 members, and equipment was brought from Paris, including pumps, hoses, ladders, axes and uniforms with shiny copper helmets and leather belts.
Another company was formed in Tel Aviv in 1925 following a flood in the Brenner neighbourhood, and was based in the first dedicated fire station in the country, a shed near the police station. Throughout the following years, more firefighting companies and fire stations were established throughout the Yishuv. By Israeli independence in 1948 there were fire stations in most Jewish settlements; Petah Tikva, Jerusalem, Haifa, Hadera, Rehovot, Nahariya, Bnei Brak, Ramat Gan, Givatayim, Afula, Herzliya, Kfar Saba, Holon, Netanya and Rishon LeZion.
After Israeli independence, fire stations were built in several other cities, including Acre and Beersheba, at Lod Airport, the oil refineries in Haifa and at the Port of Haifa and Port of Ashdod.
The Firefighting Services Law was passed in 1959 and took effect in 1960. It established a fully professional firefighting force, as until then, firefighters had previously been volunteers.
Israel Fire and Rescue Services operates 5 fire stations in Jerusalem. The main station is in Givat Mordechai, with branches in Romema, Wadi al-Joz, Givat Ram and Neve Ya'akov.
After the 2010 Mount Carmel forest fire, Israel's fire and rescue services have been transformed and upgraded from a municipal-based structure into a national force. The Israeli government nationalized the Fire and Rescue Services. Until then, the fire services had been operated by local authorities, which billed citizens for their services. Following the reform, the state finances the service as part of the government budget. It was announced that the reform would streamline efficiency and upgrade services. As a result of the reform, the fire service purchased dozens of new fire engines and new equipment, and an eight-aircraft strong firefighting squadron (expected to grow to 14) was established. All firefighters and rescue personnel became government employees under the Ministry Of Public Security.
The reform is described on the National Firefighting Authority's homepage as follows:
The Fire Reform – Creating a National Fire Authority
On July 25, 2012, the Knesset approved a law establishing a National Fire Authority. The law entails dismantling the local fire authorities and creating 7 districts under the control of the Fire Commission, within the Ministry of Public Security.
Fire and Rescue Services
National Fire Authority
The law followed a government decision from January 2011, which, in light of the Mt. Carmel forest fire, called for the establishment of a National Fire Authority under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Security.
Main Points of the Law:
The law changes the structure of the fire service from a municipality-based, divided force, into a single, unified, national force. The law also broadens the authority of the Fire Commissioner, who will now command over the force, determine the number and location of fire stations, and decide on the size of the force. As a result of the move to the Ministry of Public Security, all firefighters will now become government employees. In addition, the jurisdiction over hazardous materials will be transferred from the Environmental Protection Ministry to the Fire Commission. According to the government decision, the law must be implemented by February 1, 2013.
Making Changes:
In light of the new units being developed to meet the needs of the National Fire Authority, 300 new firefighters have been enlisted and an additional 30 positions in the fire commission were approved, including a deputy commissioner, head of operations and head of investigations. In addition, 22 units for special rescue missions involving heights and water have been established. Finally, an aerial firefighting unit was established under the command of the Air Force, and consists of eight aircraft, each with a capacity of 3,000 liters of water or foam.
Apart from recruiting new personnel, the Fire Service has also made significant advancements in the field of technology. First, a national, state-of-the-art control center was constructed at the fire commission headquarters. In addition, the fire and rescue academy was renovated, including new dormitories, new lecture halls, a workout room, and new training equipment. Additionally, plans are in the works for designing a multi-purpose training facility which will include fire and smoke simulations. So far, eight new fire stations have been opened in locations across the country, and plans are in the way for an additional 14. Ninety new fire trucks have been supplied, and thousands of protective suits are being distributed to fire stations.
In addition, the “Shalhevet” command and control system, which manages the Fire and Rescue Service's operations, is being installed in all fire stations throughout the country, as well as in the aerial firefighting unit and in the Israel Prison Service. The system will later be installed in the Home-Front Command, JNF forest services, and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. Furthermore, a communications network is being planned that will connect the Fire Service headquarters to the local stations through computers. Lastly, the development of the “Matash” fire prediction system has been completed, and has been operational since January 2012 in cities with large forest areas.
In order to bring the firefighters up to speed and advance their capabilities, many training exercises have been conducted, including large-scale exercises with multiple fire stations and additional emergency agencies; exercises simulating forest fires and earthquakes in cooperation with Israel Police helicopters; and other joint training sessions with the Home Front Command, JNF, the Nature and Parks Authority, Magen David Adom, and the National Emergency Authority.
Appliances and Equipment.
Firefighting and Rescue Vehicles in Firefighting Services
The fire engines and other equipment change from station to station. Each station can purchase different types of vehicles according to its needs. Types of fire engines also vary (Mercedes, Man, Iveco, DAF, E-ONE, etc.). The equipment in fire engines must be in accordance with a standard set by the Firefighting and Rescue Commission, but every station may equip its vehicles with additional equipment according to its needs.
In addition, a motorcycle can be used to extinguish the fire, which is used to respond quickly to extinguishing fires.