(L-R) Paul Schroeder, General Director of CGDIS; Alain Becker, Chair of CGDIS Board of Directors; Lydie Polfer, Mayor of Luxembourg City, Vice Chair of CGDIS Board of Directors;
Credit: Ali Sahib, Chronicle.lu
On Thursday 19 June 2025, the Grand Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps (CGDIS) presented its 2024 annual report during a press conference held at the National Fire and Rescue Centre (CNIS).
After an introduction by the Chair of the Board of Directors, Alain Becker, Vice Chair (and Mayor of Luxembourg City) Lydie Polfer recounted the highlights of 2024, which included events such as the National Civil Security Day in September, which helped inform thousands of people about the missions of the emergency services.
The CGDIS noted a slight increase in its workforce, which reached 7,626 members in 2024, including 1,007 professionals (679 professional firefighters and 328 administrative and technical staff). To meet the growing challenges related to civil security, the CGDIS will continue to recruit in the years to come. Alain Becker emphasised that the CGDIS is maintaining the recruitment rate envisaged by the National Emergency Organisation Plan (PNOS) of 50 professional firefighters per year.
However, volunteering remains the essential foundation of the emergency services. The results of a study conducted by the Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER) on volunteering within the CGDIS is expected to make this volunteer model even more attractive. Alain Becker also noted a certain balance in terms of volunteer commitment, with a trend toward younger personnel and a significant increase in the number of women in the ranks of the CGDIS.
General Director Paul Schroeder then took the floor to present some key operational figures for 2024. The 112 Emergency Rescue Centre recorded a total of 244,341 emergency calls, resulting in 71,965 interventions (an increase compared to 2023). Personal rescue interventions alone represented 89% of the outings of volunteer and professional firefighters of the CGDIS.
The INFS national rescue training institute offered 1,234 internal training courses that allowed 14,534 volunteer and professional firefighters to receive (continuous) training in the subjects of personal rescue and fire rescue. Two new classes - trainee professional firefighters and trainee officers - also began their careers within the CGDIS with several weeks of training within the CNIS.
Among the public, demand for first aid courses, as well as for the "Safety and accident prevention in everyday life" course, remained stable. However, the number of participants increased significantly, with 8,294 civilians having participated in one of the 483 courses offered by the CGDIS.
Paul Schroeder concluded by thanking all CGDIS staff, both volunteer and professional firefighters, for their work in recent months.
