Commemoration at the Firefighter Heroes Monument

Romanian officials gathered on Sunday, 13 September 2026, at the Monument to the Firefighter Heroes in Bucharest to commemorate national Firefighters Day. The ceremony marked the 178th anniversary of the Battle of Dealul Spirii, an engagement that shaped the institutional identity of the Romanian firefighting service. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs Cătălin Predoiu led the event alongside State Secretary Raed Arafat, internal affairs branch heads, military veterans, and institutional partners. Predoiu addressed the gathering by emphasizing the historical legacy of sacrifice established in 1848 and praised the dedication of personnel across the country. He addressed the assembled personnel directly during the commemorative ceremony.

“You fight every day for lives, for others, and for the tricolor. And this is reserved for those who are worthy and strong, who can take on such professions.”

Modernisation and international cooperation

Predoiu outlined the structural changes that transformed the Inspectorate General for Emergency Situations (IGSU) following the collapse of communism. The integration of firefighters with paramedics, aviation crews, and technical rescue teams reduced intervention times and improved survival rates during emergencies. Predoiu stated that the equipment and organizational model of IGSU currently represent a benchmark in Europe, studied by both European Union entities and specialized NATO risk management bodies. He attributed these improvements to European funding programmes and the organizational work of State Secretary Raed Arafat. The minister also noted that emergency services must now prepare for emerging operational hazards, such as anti-drone defense, widespread vegetation fires, and severe flooding.

Civil protection as national security

President Nicușor Dan issued an official statement asserting that civil protection functions as an essential component of Romanian national security. Dan noted that emergency responders face increasingly complex and unpredictable operational environments due to the war in Romania's vicinity, extreme weather events, and vulnerabilities across critical infrastructure. He cited the active role of Romanian rescue crews in European and international civil protection missions, where teams deploy to assist foreign communities during crises. Dan stated that these missions demonstrate the country's capacity to act as a dependable partner abroad. He described the operational standards required for disaster response in his message.

“Emergency situations require accurate and rapid assessments, clear decisions, and well-organized interventions.”

Developing a culture of public resilience

Dan called for building a comprehensive national culture of resilience that prepares citizens to respond effectively during emergencies. He stated that disaster preparedness must begin early through structured training inside public institutions, schools, local administrative bodies, and individual households. To support this framework, the president called for sustained state investments in training facilities, modern infrastructure, and emerging technical capabilities. Dan specifically listed artificial intelligence, drone platforms, early warning systems, and upgraded communication networks as practical tools for modern civil protection. He added that while technical assets remain vital, the foundation of every rescue mission rests on human solidarity and individual readiness to serve.