The wait is over – the EFSCA Annual Conference 2026 in Ostrava has officially begun! Under the motto “Innovative Approaches to Training and Communication in Emergency Response”, fire service and colleges leaders, trainers, and experts from across Europe have gathered to shape the future of emergency preparedness.
EFSCA President Arvid Graeger and Vice-President Jiri Fojtik opened the conference and gave some welcome speeches, setting the stage for three days of collaboration. Right after that the symbolic EFSCA flag-raising ceremony took place, reminding us of our shared mission: stronger together.
This conference isn’t just about sharing knowledge – it’s about standardizing best practices, fostering cross-border cooperation, and ensuring that every firefighter in Europe has access to the best training tools. Because when emergencies strike, borders shouldn’t matter.
Following that Dusan Valek and Martin Adamec from the Czech Fire Service College gave us some insights into Czech emergency response framework, the strategical, operational and tactical emergency management levels. Forthermore they showcased how the acronym CORE-GV is revolutionizing tactical simulations – not only for call-takers, dispatchers and incident commanders but also for fire prevention and investigation, crisis staff personell and more than that to connect the different simulations – turning emergency response systems into lifelike training scenarios.
The second presentation of the afternoon by Jiri Studnika dealt with to topic “Information and Communication in Emergency Response”. The participants got some insights into the communications department of the Czech ministry of interior, usecases for drones in gathering information and why modern emergency response is more than “fighting the fire”.
The afternoon tours gave delegates a firsthand look at Ostrava’s emergency infrastructure, from the Lower Vitkovice industrial heritage site to the Integrated Safety Center. Real-world insights means better preparedness!
Networking with a Side of Czech Hospitality – The Welcome Dinner in the evening wasn’t just about great food: EFSCA is honored that Director General of Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic Vladimír Vlček welcomed our participants and wished everyone a successful and fruitful event. It was a reminder that EFSCA’s strength lies in its community – firefighters, trainers, and experts coming together and exchanging ideas and experiences.
