(L-R) Paul Schroeder, General Director of CGDIS; Alain Becker, Chair of CGDIS Board of Directors; Credit: CGDIS

On Friday 28 June 2024, the Grand Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps (CGDIS) invited members of the press to the presentation of its 2023 activity report.

Alain Becker, Chair of the CGDIS Board of Directors, drew up an assessment of the evolution of voluntary and professional personnel as well as the budgetary aspect of the year 2023.

In terms of human resources, the CGDIS saw a slight increase in the number of its members to a total of 7,206 people. In 2023, the CGDIS hired 928 people, including 649 professional firefighters and 279 administrative and technical staff. In order to cope with growing civil security challenges, the CGDIS will continue to recruit in the coming years.

Alain Becker then highlighted the logistical achievements of the last months, particularly the commissioning of CIS Remich and Findel but also current projects.

CGDIS General Director Paul Schroeder then presented some operational key figures for 2023. For example, the 112 emergency call centre (CSU 112) recorded a total of 276,353 calls. These emergency calls resulted in 70,660 interventions being carried out last year. The CGDIS emphasised that this number is slightly declining for the first time since the creation of the CGDIS in 2018.

In 2023, the national rescue training institute (Institut National de Formation des Secours - INFS) internally offered 1,392 training courses which allowed 14,021 volunteer and professional firefighters to train (continuously) in the areas of rescuing people and firefighting. A promotion of trainee professional firefighters and a promotion of trainee officers have also started their career within the CGDIS with several weeks of training in the National Fire and Rescue Centre (CNIS).

The CGDIS added that the demand for first aid courses, as well as the course on the security and prevention of accidents on a daily basis, for the general public also increased again last year. To respond to this demand, the CGDIS expanded the number of courses offered throughout the country in 2023. 7,804 civilians participated in one of the 488 courses offered by the CGDIS.

Paul Schroeder concluded by thanking all the staff of the CGDIS, whether voluntary or professional, for their work in recent months.