April 27, 2024 at 7:13 PM
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VEENENDAAL The Utrecht Safety Region (VRU) has listed its activities in the 28 municipalities last year in its annual report. She is responsible for, among other things, fire stations and crisis management. This also included the reception of Ukrainian refugees and crisis accommodation.
by Peter Kuijpers
‘Utrecht Safety Region is a partnership of and for the 28 municipalities. We ensure the safety of all people who live and stay in the region every day. We do this with our dispatchers at the 112 control room, our firefighters and our colleagues from risk management, crisis management and the medical emergency organization in the region and in close collaboration with our partners. With almost 2,400 committed colleagues at 70 fire stations, workshops and offices, we jointly contribute to safety in our region. Every day, better and better,” says general director JR Donker of the VRU.
NOTIFICATIONS
The control room received a total of 23,393 reports in 2023, including 8,118 incidents for which the fire brigade responded. This did this 269 times outside the region and 7,849 for a municipality within the partnership. This concerned 774 building fires and 1965 other fires. In addition, the fire brigade responded 80 times to provide technical assistance and 326 times to provide animal assistance. In addition to 2,294 other emergency services, she was also on the road 876 times for resuscitation with an AED, 602 times for actions involving hazardous substances and 145 calls for support in the event of water accidents.
DISPLACED
Furthermore, the VRU was involved 7 times in a ‘Coordinated Regional Incident Response Procedure’ (GRIP), such as major fires, gas leaks and train disruptions. The Safety Information Center processed 400 messages last year. ‘A ‘long-term regional operational team’ was active within the VRU throughout 2023. This team formed the link between the government and the region with regard to an assignment given to the security regions to direct and coordinate the reception of Ukrainian displaced persons.’ This work was transferred to the province of Utrecht at the beginning of this year.
However, the safety region will continue to carry out the actual work. ‘The VRU also organizes the so-called HUB Jaarbeurs, where arriving Ukrainians are received, registered and transferred to a permanent residence location in or outside Utrecht,’ she explains. She also carries out similar work for the crisis emergency reception locations in Kedichem and Veenendaal. ‘The Utrecht region has made an average of around 6,000 places available for this target group.’ Finally, last year the VRU provided information 145 times and a Roadshow 20 times about preventing fire in the home.
Tags: Utrecht Safety Region fire brigade units asylum seekers received
