The costs

The authority responsible for the measures or mission is responsible for the costs of rescue services. The State may, for a special reason, fund the procurement of special equipment or such activities as it is expedient to fund from State funds.

The annual expenditure on State and regional rescue services amounts to approximately EUR 340 million. Property owners spend some EUR 39 million each year on building civil defence shelters.

Assistance from the Finnish Fire Protection Fund

In order to enhance fire prevention and rescue operations, an annual fire protection fee is charged in relation to property covered by fire insurance in Finland. Fire protection fees are remitted to the Finnish Fire Protection Fund, which is managed independently of the central government budget and is administered and monitored by the Ministry of the Interior.

The Fire Protection Fund grants assistance to municipalities, rescue service regions, contract fire brigades, and rescue service and other organisations, and it awards grants and scholarships. This assistance has focused on training and education provided by the various rescue service organisations, fire station and equipment-related projects of municipalities and voluntary fire brigades, and research and development related to rescue services.

The Fire Protection Fund grants approximately EUR 6 million in assistance on an annual basis.

Page modified: 27.6.2006