Pelastusryhmät

Pelastusryhmät, literally “rescue teams”, is the Finnish term for the national system of voluntary and professional emergency response services. In Finland the term primarily refers to the volunteer rescue squads that operate alongside the civil protection authorities. The organisation of Pelastusryhmät dates back to the 1940s, when local communities established fire and rescue groups to meet the country’s scattered rural population and the threat of incidents such as arson, traffic accidents and natural disasters.

The modern Pelastusryhmät network is coordinated by the Ministry of the Interior through the System for Civil Protection (Sisäministeri). The volunteer squads are organised at the municipal level and each unit is staffed by volunteers who receive regular training in firefighting, medical first aid, technical rescue and incident command. In addition to these volunteer units, municipal fire departments (palokunta), which are statutory organisations staffed by civil servants, provide a more professional base for specialist units such as engineering, hazardous materials and marine rescue.

Pelastusryhmät units are often the first to arrive on scenes of road crashes, landslides or house fires, performing initial triage, extrication and basic firefighting. They are also involved in search and rescue operations in forests, caves and underwater environments, exploiting Finland’s dense forest and extensive water systems. When large-scale disasters occur, Pelastusryhmät coordinate with the Finnish Defence Forces, the Red Cross and international aid organisations.

Training is carried out annually by local fire and rescue schools and often funded through municipal budgets and national grants. Volunteers usually wear bright orange jackets and reflective vests with the Pelastusryhmät insignia, and they operate on a volunteer basis while remaining fully equipped for professional-level incidents. The system is recognised for its high level of readiness and community engagement, and it remains a critical component of Finland’s overall emergency management strategy.