Every 28 seconds, a plea for assistance.
In a surprising turn of events, the Berlin Fire Department reported a record-breaking increase in deployments in 2024, despite a slight decrease in emergency calls. This intriguing phenomenon can be attributed to several key factors.
The emergency call volume fell by 5.7%, down to around 1.15 million calls, after years of growth. However, the number of actual deployments by the fire department increased by 3.4%, reaching a record high of 532,157 call-outs in 2024[1]. This suggests that while fewer people called emergency services, more incidents required response or more resources per incident were deployed.
One significant factor contributing to the decrease in emergency calls is an update on mobile phones that prevents accidental "pocket dials" when calling the emergency number. This update has undoubtedly played a significant role in reducing non-essential calls[1].
The year 2024 was marked by "extreme situations" and a "highly stressful situation" for the fire department, including a major fire in Lichterfelde that involved almost 600 firefighters and lasted over 7 days[1]. Such large-scale events demand substantial mobilization even if overall call volume declines.
The composition of calls might have shifted, requiring more services per incident. For example, an overall reduction in minor or false alarm calls could reduce total call numbers, but the remaining calls may be more serious or require multiple units, increasing deployments.
The Berlin Fire Brigade increased its workforce by approximately 230 volunteers compared to 2023, potentially enabling more comprehensive responses[1]. This increased personnel allowed for more deployments, even with a decrease in emergency calls.
Comparison with other major cities indicates that the situation in Berlin, though intense, is not extraordinary nationwide. This context implies systemic factors affecting call volume and deployment patterns might be at play, such as changes in public behaviour or emergency reporting[1].
In summary, the slight drop in emergency calls alongside a historic high in deployments reflects a scenario where fewer, but more resource-intensive, emergencies occurred in Berlin during 2024. The complexity and severity of incidents, combined with a larger and more capable fire department force, contributed to this dynamic[1].
Every 3 minutes and 20 seconds, an emergency call comes into the Berlin Fire Department's control center in 2024. The Berlin Fire Department dispatched 1,375 ambulances in 2024, a 3.4% increase from 2023. Every 28 seconds, an emergency call comes into the Berlin Fire Department's control center. Every 2 hours and 36 minutes, a fire is reported to the Berlin Fire Department in 2024. The total number of emergency deployments by the Berlin Fire Department in 2024 was 746,157, a 3.4% increase from 2023[1].
State Fire Director Karsten Homrighausen stated that a joint campaign with the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians has been successful in raising awareness about the correct emergency numbers in Berlin. For non-life-threatening medical conditions that require medical assistance, the correct number in Berlin remains 116 117. For life-threatening emergencies, the correct number in Berlin is 112.
[1] Berlin Fire Department Annual Report 2024.
The increase in deployments by the Berlin Fire Department in 2024, despite a decrease in emergency calls, could be tied to the complexity and severity of incidents, which may require more resources per incident in health-and-wellness and science fields. The shift in the composition of calls, such as fewer minor or false alarm calls, could account for the overall decrease in call numbers, but result in more resource-intensive emergencies, leading to an increase in deployments.
The joint campaign with the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, aimed at raising awareness about the correct emergency numbers, may impact the science and health-and-wellness sector by reducing non-essential calls and potentially improving overall emergency response in Berlin.
