Procedures by which the National Armed Forces shall Participate in Emergency, Firefighting and Rescue Operations, as well as in the Measures for the Elimination of the Consequences Caused by Emergency Situations

Issued pursuant to
Section 17, Paragraph three of the National Armed Forces Law

I. General Provisions

1. This Regulation prescribes the procedures by which the National Armed Forces shall participate in emergency, firefighting and rescue operations, as well as in the measures for the elimination of the consequences caused by emergency situations (hereinafter - emergency measures).

2. The National Armed Forces shall be involved in emergency, firefighting and rescue operations, as well as in emergency measures - provision of assistance to the civil protection system - if the resources at the disposal of the civil protection system are insufficient for the carrying out of emergency measures for overcoming a hazard situation and elimination of the consequences and attraction of the resources of the National Armed Forces significantly expedites the implementation of emergency measures, reduces the potential losses, expedites rescue of human beings or if the National Armed Forces have special resources at their disposal for the performance of such activities.

3. Upon participating in emergency, firefighting and rescue operations, as well as in emergency measures, the National Armed Forces shall be involved in carrying out of the following operations:

3.1. extinguishing a fire;

3.2. provision of first aid to inhabitants who have suffered, their evacuation, also medical transportation using aircraft;

3.3. evacuation and guarding of material values;

3.4. carrying out of environmental protection, including nature protection, measures;

3.5. provision of assistance to civic institution, if mass falling ill with infectious diseases has occurred and provision of quarantine measures is necessary;

3.6. provision of material and technical assistance (for example, transport, machinery, equipment, aircraft, ships, field kitchens, mobile control centres) according to the resources at the disposal of the National Armed Forces;

3.7. provision of assistance in ensuring the use of medical reserves;

3.8. carrying out of blasting operations for civic needs, using explosives;

3.9. other activities in accordance with the State Civil Protection Plan;

3.10. psychologist and chaplain support.

[7 April 2015]

4. The National Armed Forces shall be involved in emergency (except aviation accidents and accidents at sea), firefighting and rescue (except aviation accidents and accidents at sea) operations, as well as emergency measures:

4.1. if the National Armed Forces do not carry out tasks related to an armed conflict or elimination measures thereof;

4.2. if a state of exception has not been proclaimed.

II. Procedures by which the National Armed Forces shall be Involved in Firefighting Operations

5. Involvement of units of the National Armed Forces in firefighting operations in land territory shall be requested:

5.1. throughout the State territory or its region - by the Chief of the State Fire and Rescue Service or his authorised person, but in case of forest fire - also the Director-General of the State Forest Service or his authorised person;

5.2. in an administrative territory - by the head of the territorial unit of the State Fire and Rescue Service, but in case of forest fire - also the Chief Forester or his authorised person. The duty officer of the Department of Management and Operations of the Board of Control and Operations of the State Fire and Rescue Service (hereinafter - Department of Management and Operations) shall be informed regarding the request.

6. If a situation of elevated fire danger has been proclaimed, the Minister for Defence, on the basis of a request of the Chief of the State Fire and Rescue Service or the Director-General of the State Forest Service regarding the necessary readiness for the National Armed Forces to provide support in firefighting operations, shall issue an order to the Commander of the National Armed Forces. The tasks to be carried out shall be determined in the order and, if necessary, the responsible person for co-ordination of such issues shall be delegated.

7. A request to involve the National Armed Forces in firefighting operations shall be submitted and execution thereof shall be controlled according to the following procedures:

7.1. the duty officer of the Department of Management and Operations or the Director-General of the State Forest Service (or his authorised person) shall submit a request to the responsible official of the National Armed Forces, indicating the place and nature of fire, the preferable number of the personnel of the National Armed Forces, the tasks to be carried out and the quantity of material and technical resources necessary for carrying out of the tasks;

7.2. the responsible official of the National Armed Forces shall:

7.2.1. notify the Minister for Defence or the Commander of the National Armed Forces (or his authorised person) regarding the request received;

7.2.2. inform the duty officer of the Department of Management and Operations or the Director-General of the State Forest Service (or his authorised person) regarding the decision taken by the Minister for Defence or the Commander of the National Armed Forces (or his authorised person);

7.2.3. notify the decision of the Minister for Defence or the Commander of the National Armed Forces (or his authorised person) to the relevant unit of the National Armed Forces which shall execute the decision;

7.2.4. control execution of the decision of the Minister for Defence or the Commander of the National Armed Forces (or his authorised person);

7.2.5. notify the Minister for Defence or the Commander of the National Armed Forces (or his authorised person) regarding the results of carrying out the operations and return to the permanent location site.

8. If immediate response is required:

8.1. the Commander of the unit of the National Armed Forces stationed in the relevant administrative territory is entitled to take a decision on involvement in firefighting operations upon request of the head of the territorial unit of the State Fire and Rescue Service (or his authorised person) or the Chief Forester (or his authorised person) (for not more than 24 hours), if the number of persons to be involved in firefighting operations does not exceed 50;

8.2. the Commander of the National Armed Forces (or his authorised person) within 24 hours shall issue an order certifying action regarding involvement of the unit of the National Armed Forces in firefighting operations, if the number of persons to be involved in firefighting operations does not exceed 50.

9. A decision on involvement in firefighting operations shall be taken by the Minister for Defence, if the number of persons to be involved exceeds 50.

10. The Commander of the unit of the National Armed Forces stationed in the relevant administrative territory shall inform without delay regarding the decision taken on involvement in firefighting operations:

10.1. the responsible official of the National Armed Forces who shall notify the Commander of the National Armed Forces or the Minister for Defence thereof;

10.2. the relevant territorial unit of the State Fire and Rescue Service, but in case of forest fire - the Chief Forester.

11. The Commander of the unit of the National Armed Forces involved in firefighting operations:

11.1. shall notify the manager of the firefighting and rescue operations regarding arrival and readiness to involve in firefighting operations, as well as regarding completion of operations and leaving of the scene;

11.2. is included and works in the composition of the operational headquarters of the firefighting and rescue operations;

11.3. shall operate under management of the manager of the firefighting and rescue operations;

11.4. organise safety measures, manage the work of the subordinated personnel and shall be responsible for carrying out of the assigned task;

11.5. notify the responsible official of the National Armed Forces regarding results of operations and return to the permanent location site.

12. The responsible official of the National Armed Forces shall inform the State Border Guard regarding involvement of the National Armed Forces in firefighting operations in border area.

III. Procedures by which the National Armed Forces shall be Involved in Emergency and Rescue Operations

13. Involvement of a unit of the National Armed Forces in emergency and rescue operations in land territory shall be requested:

13.1. throughout the State territory or its region - by the Chief of the State Fire and Rescue Service or his authorised person;

13.2. in an administrative territory - by the head of the territorial unit of the State Fire and Rescue Service. The duty officer of the Department of Management and Operations shall be informed regarding the request;

13.3. in an administrative territory - in search operations related to rescue of lost persons - the head of the State Police Operational Management Unit or the head of the Operational Management Unit of the State Police Territorial Police Board. The chief watchman of the State Police Operational Management Unit or the chief watchman of the Operational Management Unit of the State Police Territorial Police Board shall be informed regarding the request.

14. A request to involve the National Armed Forces in emergency and rescue operations shall be submitted and execution thereof shall be controlled according to the following procedures:

14.1. the duty officer of the Department of Management and Operations (if search must be performed - chief watchman of the State Police Operational Management Unit or the chief watchman of the Operational Management Unit of the State Police Territorial Police Board) shall submit a request to the responsible official of the National Armed Forces, indicating the place and nature of rescue operations or emergency, the preferable number of the personnel of the National Armed Forces, the tasks to be carried out and the quantity of material and technical resources necessary for carrying out of the tasks;

14.2. the responsible official of the National Armed Forces shall:

14.2.1. notify the Minister for Defence or the Commander of the National Armed Forces (or his authorised person) regarding the request received;

14.2.2. inform the duty officer of the Department of Management and Operations (if search must be performed - chief watchman of the State Police Operational Management Unit or the chief watchman of the Operational Management Unit of the State Police Territorial Police Board) regarding the decision of the Minister for Defence or the Commander of the National Armed Forces (or his authorised person);

14.2.3. notify the decision of the Minister for Defence or the Commander of the National Armed Forces (or his authorised person) to the relevant unit of the National Armed Forces which shall execute the decision;

14.2.4. control execution of the decision of the Minister for Defence or the Commander of the National Armed Forces (or his authorised person), notify the Minister for Defence or the Commander of the National Armed Forces (or his authorised person) regarding the results of carrying out the operations and return to the permanent location site.

15. If immediate response is required:

15.1. the Commander of the unit of the National Armed Forces stationed in the relevant administrative territory is entitled to take a decision on involvement in emergency and rescue operations upon request of the head of the territorial unit of the State Fire and Rescue Service (or his authorised person) (for not more than 24 hours), if the number of persons to be involved in emergency and rescue operations does not exceed 50;

15.2. the Commander of the National Armed Forces (or his authorised person) within 24 hours shall issue an order certifying action regarding involvement of the National Armed Forces in emergency and rescue operations, if the number of persons to be involved in emergency and rescue operations does not exceed 50.

16. A decision on involvement in emergency and rescue operations shall be taken by the Minister for Defence, if the number of persons to be involved exceeds 50.

17. The Commander of the unit of the National Armed Forces stationed in the relevant administrative territory shall inform without delay regarding the decision taken on involvement in emergency and rescue operations:

17.1. the responsible official of the National Armed Forces who shall notify the Commander of the National Armed Forces or the Minister for Defence thereof;

17.2. the relevant territorial unit of the State Fire and Rescue Service, which shall notify the duty officer of the Department of Management and Operations.

18. The Commander of the unit of the National Armed Forces involved in emergency and rescue operations:

18.1. shall notify the manager of the emergency and rescue operations (or the person appointed by him) regarding arrival and readiness to involve in emergency and rescue operations, as well as regarding completion of operations and leaving of the scene;

18.2. is included and works in the composition of the operational headquarters;

18.3. shall operate under management of the manager of emergency and rescue operations (or the person appointed by him);

18.4. organise safety measures, manage the work of the subordinated personnel and shall be responsible for carrying out of the assigned task;

18.5. notify the responsible official of the National Armed Forces regarding results of operations and return to the permanent location site.

19. The responsible official of the National Armed Forces shall inform the State Border Guard regarding involvement of the National Armed Forces in emergency and rescue operations in border area.

20. To prevent emergencies in the energy enterprises referred to in the State Civil Protection Plan and eliminate the consequences thereof, the National Armed Forces and the executors responsible for safety of energy supply laid down in the National Civil Protection Plan and municipal civil protection plans (hereinafter - institutions responsible for energy supply) shall co-operate in the manner laid down in the concluded mutual agreements.

[7 April 2015]

IV. Procedures by which an Aircraft of the National Armed Forces shall be Involved in Emergency, Firefighting and Rescue Operations

21. The manager of the firefighting and rescue operations of the State Fire and Rescue Service (or his appointed person) or the Chief Forester (or his appointed person) may request that the National Armed Forces carry out firefighting operations using an aircraft, informing the responsible official of the National Armed Forces thereof.

22. The responsible official of the National Armed Forces shall notify the Commander of the National Armed Forces (or his authorised person) regarding the received request to carry out firefighting operations using an aircraft. The responsible official of the National Armed Forces shall notify the State Fire and Rescue Service or the State Forest Service regarding the decision of the Commander of the National Armed Forces (or his authorised person) and the readiness of the aircraft and its crew to carry out firefighting operations using an aircraft.

23. After carrying out of the operations referred to in Paragraph 22 of this Regulation, the responsible official of the National Armed Forces shall co-ordinate the harmonisation of flights with the State stock company "Latvijas gaisa satiksme". The specialists appointed by the State Fire and Rescue Service or the State Forest Service shall co-ordinate the firefighting operations to be carried out by the aircraft of the National Armed Forces at the scene. While being on the aircraft, the specialists appointed by the State Fire and Rescue Service or the State Forest Service shall conform to the safety rules. The aircraft of the National Armed Forces shall carry out firefighting operations, using the water resources indicated by the manager of public waters of the Republic of Latvia or firefighting operations.

24. The Director of the State Emergency Medical Centre (or his authorised person) is entitled to request that the National Armed Forces carry out medical transportation using an aircraft, informing the responsible official of the National Armed Forces thereof. The responsible official of the National Armed Forces shall notify the Commander of the National Armed Forces (or his authorised person) regarding the received request, as well as notify the State Emergency Medical Centre regarding the decision of the Commander of the National Armed Forces (or his authorised person) and the readiness of the aircraft and its crew to carry out medical transportation using an aircraft. After carrying out of such operations, the responsible official of the National Armed Forces shall co-ordinate the harmonisation of flights with the State stock company "Latvijas gaisa satiksme". While being on the aircraft, specialists of the State Emergency Medical Centre shall conform to the safety rules.

24.¹ The head of the institution responsible for energy supply (or his authorised representative) is entitled to request that the National Armed Forces prevent emergencies in the energy enterprises referred to in the National Civil Protection Plan and eliminate their consequences by using an aircraft, notifying the responsible official of the National Armed Forces thereof. The responsible official of the National Armed Forces shall notify the Commander of the National Armed Forces (or his authorised person) regarding the received request, as well as notify the head of the institution responsible for energy supply (or his authorised representative) regarding the decision of the Commander of the National Armed Forces (or his authorised person) and the readiness of the aircraft and its crew to prevent emergencies in the energy enterprises and eliminate their consequences by using an aircraft. After carrying out of such activities, the responsible official of the National Armed Forces shall co-ordinate the harmonisation of flights with the State stock company "Latvijas gaisa satiksme". While being on the aircraft, employees of the institution responsible for energy supply shall conform to the safety rules.

[7 April 2015]

24.² The head of the State Police Operational Management Unit or the head of the Operational Management Unit of the State Police Territorial Police Board is entitled to request that the National Armed Forces carry out search operations related to search and rescue of lost persons by using an aircraft, notifying the responsible official of the National Armed Forces thereof. The responsible official of the National Armed Forces shall notify the Commander of the National Armed Forces (or his authorised person) regarding the received request, as well as notify the head of the State Police Operational Management Unit or the head of the Operational Management Unit of the State Police Territorial Police Board regarding the decision of the Commander of the National Armed Forces (or his authorised person) and the readiness of the aircraft and its crew to carry out search and rescue operations using an aircraft. After carrying out of such activities, the responsible official of the National Armed Forces shall co-ordinate the harmonisation of flights with the State stock company "Latvijas gaisa satiksme". While being on the aircraft, officials of the State Police shall conform to the safety rules.

[7 April 2015]

V. Procedures by which the National Armed Forces shall be Involved in Emergency Measures

25. Involvement of units of the National Armed Forces in carrying out of emergency measures - provision of assistance to the civil protection system - shall be requested:

25.1. by the Cabinet (upon proposal of the Crisis Management Council) - if an emergency situation has been announced in the whole territory of the State or a significant part thereof;

25.2. by the civil protection commission of local governments - if an emergency situation has been announced in the administrative territory;

25.3. by the State operational medical commission - if an emergency medical and emergency public health situation has been announced.

26. The Minister for Defence shall issue an order regarding involvement of the National Armed Forces in emergency measures. The order shall include information on:

26.1. the nature of the emergency situation, information regarding State administrative institutions and services participating in emergency measures;

26.2. a task for the National Armed Forces for provision of assistance to the civil protection system in emergency measures;

26.3. the procedures by which the operation of the National Armed Forces shall be co-ordinated with the State institutions and services involved in emergency measures.

27. The Commander of the unit of the National Armed Forces involved in emergency measures shall:

27.1. notify the official who manages emergency measures and the responsible official of the National Armed Forces regarding arrival and readiness to involve in emergency measures, as well as regarding completion of operations and leaving of the scene;

27.2. operate under management of such official who manages emergency measures;

27.3. organise safety measures, manage the work of the subordinated personnel and shall be responsible for carrying out of the assigned task;

27.4. notify the responsible official of the National Armed Forces regarding results of operations and return to the permanent location site.

28. The responsible official of the National Armed Forces shall inform the State Border Guard regarding involvement of the National Armed Forces in emergency measures in border area.

VI. Preparation and Provision of the Personnel of the National Armed Forces with Material and Technical Resources and Special Equipment for Participation in Emergency, Firefighting and Rescue Operations, as well as in Emergency Measures

29. A personnel of the National Armed Forces which has been prepared accordingly and which is ensured with the special equipment necessary for carrying out of the task may be involved in emergency, firefighting and rescue operations, as well as emergency measures.

30. The National Armed Forces shall organise personnel training in order to improve the readiness of the personnel to participate in emergency, firefighting and rescue operations, as well as emergency measures.

31. The Commander of the National Armed Forces shall be responsible for the provision of such units of the National Armed Forces with the material and technical resources and special equipment necessary for carrying out of tasks, which are planned to be involved in emergency, firefighting and rescue operations, as well as emergency measures, and for the establishment of material reserves necessary for carrying out of the referred-to operations.

Prime Minister V. Dombrovskis

Minister for Defence, acting for the Minister for Justice I. V. Lieģis

Translation © 2014 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)