The Office for the Audit of Institutions in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina conducted a performance audit with the aim of examining the activities of institutions to ensure the assumptions for effective fire protection and firefighting, that office announced.
12 entities were audited – the Federal Administration of Civil Protection and six cantonal administrations from Posavina, Zenica-Doboj, Central Bosnia, Herzegovina-Neretva, West Herzegovina and Sarajevo Cantons, as well as five civil protection services of the cities of Orašje, Zenica, Mostar and Ljubuški and the Municipality of Travnik.
The time frame of the audit was the period 2022-2024. year, using the available data for the year 2025.
The audit showed that not all the necessary prerequisites for the effective functioning of the fire protection and firefighting system have been established.
Federal and cantonal administrations of civil protection, as well as civil protection services from the sample did not ensure regular preparation and updating of planning documents, it is stated in the announcement.
As a consequence, existing risk assessments and fire protection plans contain outdated data and do not include current risks and measures to eliminate them.
There was no adoption of annual implementation plans and reports on their implementation, which makes it impossible to monitor progress in the implementation of measures from planning documents.
Activities to ensure the human capacities needed for effective response in the event of a fire were not sufficient. Assessments of the human capacity needs of professional firefighting units are missing, while systematized positions are not filled in accordance with the regulations on internal organization.
Civil protection authorities from the sample did not conduct regular professional training of professional firefighters. Also, volunteer firefighters are often not available at full capacity or have regular training, which calls into question their readiness for emergency situations.
A special challenge is the lack of capacity for inspection supervision, which is why numerous deficiencies in the fire protection system remain unremedied.
The lack of systematic planning and assessment of the need for technical equipment, along with the low implementation of planned public procurement, leads to insufficient equipment of firefighting units.
The average age of fire engines is around 24 years, while some are more than 40 and even 60 years old, which seriously affects the effectiveness of interventions.
The absence of a sustainable model of financing technical capacities additionally limits the long-term strengthening of the capacities necessary for the efficient operation of professional firefighting units.
Based on the findings of the audit, the Office made recommendations for improving planning, strengthening human capacities and improving the technical equipment of firefighting units. By improving the situation in this area, it is possible to achieve significant added value through the protection of people’s lives, health and property, reduction of material losses and preservation of natural resources, the statement says.
