Rescue Department receiving over 400 000 euros EU funding for CBRNE capabilities

The Ministry of the Interior has granted EU funding from the Internal Security Fund (ISF) to the Helsinki City Rescue Department for equipment acquisitions to strengthen the department’s preparedness for demanding CBRNE incidents involving chemical substances, biological pathogens, radioactive substances, nuclear weapons or explosives.

The objective of the project, part-financed by the EU, is to improve the performance of the rescue departments in Helsinki and Uusimaa in the event of accidents and intentional incidents involving hazardous materials by acquiring modern equipment suitable for measuring and analysing CBRNE substances and PPE improving the occupational safety of first responders for the use of the City of Helsinki Rescue Department.

“We are very grateful for the funding granted by the EU. Thanks to the funds, we are able to strengthen our abilities in situations corresponding to risk scenarios in the changing operating environment. In the future, we will be equipped better than before to offer our special expertise in demanding CBRNE situations in Helsinki and throughout Finland. Indeed, the support from the fund is support for rescue services throughout Finland and the safety of all Finnish residents,” says Rescue Chief Marko Rostedt.

Rescue departments are the only organisations that are immediately ready to be deployed to rescue people from the impact zone of hazardous substances, decontaminate people exposed to hazardous materials and administer first aid, when necessary. The City of Helsinki Rescue Department employs first responders and first-aid workers specially trained in handling situations involving hazardous substances as well as a rescue unit equipped in accordance with the requirements of these situations and quickly deployable decontamination lines.

“CBRNE situations are always challenging and complex. It is crucial to first detect and identify the substance, which requires efficient and high-performance measurement, detection and analysis equipment. Operating in the immediate danger zone and rescuing people also requires the best possible PPE to ensure occupational safety,” says fire master Sami Lindberg, the project manager for the rescue operations in demanding CBRNE situations.

In Finland, the administrative authority on the Internal Safety Fund (regulation EU 2021/1149) programme is the Ministry of the Interior, which granted an action grant covering 75 per cent, or up to 437 835 euros, of the approved overall cost of the project of the City of Helsinki Rescue Department.