Estonia’s rescue service faces a shortfall of more than 100 staff

Estonia’s Rescue Board is short more than 100 staff, its deputy director general Martin Lambing said in an interview with ERR, warning that vacancies threaten the management of complex rescue operations and increase employees’ workloads.

Rescuers’ monthly salary is set to rise by 48 euros to 1,654 euros next year under the state budget. Lambing said the increase was welcome but did not address the growing gap between rescuers’ pay and the national average. He said a fair level would be 1.2 times the average Estonian wage, reflecting the risks and responsibilities of the job.

Lambing said losing experienced rescuers could also create a security risk because they have specialist skills that are difficult to replace. Staff who leave are unlikely to return quickly, he said, after completing lengthy training and gaining years of experience.

He said the Rescue Board, the Ministry of the Interior and the firefighters’ union shared the goals of raising pay towards 1.2 times the national average, securing permanent funding for civil protection and valuing volunteer rescuers. Lambing also praised Interior Minister Igor Taro for advocating for rescuers’ pay and crisis preparedness.

The Rescue Board currently employs 1,700 professional rescuers and has more than 3,000 volunteers. Asked how many firefighter positions were unfilled, Lambing initially gave a figure of 34, but said the broader staffing need was much greater.