State Fire and Rescue Service of Latvia / Valsts ugunsdzēsības un glābšanas dienests

What State Fire and Rescue Service of Latvia / Valsts ugunsdzēsības un glābšanas dienests does

The State Fire and Rescue Service of Latvia (Valsts ugunsdzēsības un glābšanas dienests, VUGD) is a government administrative institution under the supervision of the Minister of Internal Affairs, established in 1864/1865, that holds the exclusive national mandate for firefighting, rescue operations, civil protection, and operation of the unified 112 emergency number across Latvia. The organization serves the entire population of Latvia across 64,589 km² through a network of 91 fire stations organized into five regional departments (Riga, Latgale, Kurzeme, Vidzeme, Zemgale). Service to the public is free of charge and funded through state budget allocations, with supplemental capital from EU instruments including the European Regional Development Fund, Internal Security Fund, Civil Protection Financial Instrument, and the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

The service's core technology stack centers on an emergency response coordination system and the 112 single emergency call number infrastructure. Digital public-facing products include the 112 Latvija mobile application (available on iOS and Android, supporting quick calls, SMS, safety tips, and news) and the 112.lv web portal for emergency guidance. The organization is currently implementing the Unified Civil Protection and Fire Safety Management Platform (Vienotā civilās aizsardzības un ugunsdrošības pārvaldības platforma) and has deployed the ABS+ Public Warning System for citizen alerting. A Fire Fighting Testing Laboratory operates under the service's training arm. The wholly-owned Fire Safety and Civil Protection College provides vocational training with a Tactical House for practical exercises, and the Latvian Firefighting Museum (Hanzas iela 5, Riga) preserves institutional history.

VUGD's customer base is structurally the entire Latvian population, with the Latvian state as the sole funding counterparty. The organization also engages in cross-border cooperation through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, CTIF, FEU, and Interreg programs (Latvia-Lithuania, Latvia-Estonia, Baltic Sea Region). It operates 24/7 dispatch, search and rescue (including water rescue and underwater search), hazardous chemical incident response, structural collapse response, and traffic accident response. Chief Mārtiņš Baltmanis has led the service since April 1, 2023. The 160th anniversary of firefighting in Latvia was marked in May 2025 with seven award events.

Name

State Fire and Rescue Service of Latvia / Valsts ugunsdzēsības un glābšanas dienests

Legal name

Valsts ugunsdzēsības un glābšanas dienests

Website

https://vugd.gov.lv

Company type

Public

Founded year

1865

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The State Fire and Rescue Service of Latvia (VUGD) is a government agency under the Minister of Internal Affairs that holds the exclusive national mandate for firefighting, rescue operations, civil protection, and the 112 emergency number. It serves all citizens of Latvia through 91 fire stations across five regional departments, funded by the state budget.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Emergency Services

NAICS

Fire Protection (92216)

akta.pro primary industry

Emergency Response Team (ERT) Staffing & Incident Management Support (BPABANAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Facility Emergency Response Plans (ERP) & Integrated Contingency Plans (ICP) (EUAHALAB)

Keywords

• Fire rescue services
• Civil protection
• Emergency response
• Fire safety supervision
• Emergency call dispatch

Headquarters

HQ city

Rīga

HQ country

Latvia

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. State Budget Funding: Government-funded service operating under the supervision of the Minister of Internal Affairs. Receives annual state budget allocations for operations, equipment, personnel, and infrastructure.

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

VUGD provides national firefighting, rescue operations, civil protection, and fire safety supervision services across Latvia, operating the single European emergency number 112 and coordinating emergency response through 91 fire stations across 5 regional departments. The service also operates the Fire Safety and Civil Protection College for training and the Latvian Firefighting Museum for historical preservation.

Product overview

The State Fire and Rescue Service of Latvia operates a comprehensive emergency response system centered on the single European emergency number 112. The core digital offerings include the '112 Latvija' mobile application and the 112.lv web portal for public safety information, supported by the main institutional website vugd.gov.lv. The service operates the Fire Safety and Civil Protection College for professional training and the Latvian Firefighting Museum for historical preservation. The organization provides firefighting, rescue operations, civil protection, and emergency coordination services across all of Latvia through territorial structural units including fire stations and regional departments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 112 Latvija: Mobile application for emergency calls and safety information

Products and services

• 112 Latvija Mobile Application Mobile application enabling citizens to call the single emergency number 112, send SMS to 112, and access safety tips and current news from VUGD. Available free of charge to the public.
• 112 Emergency Call Center Dispatcher Services Emergency call center operations handling the single emergency number 112 throughout Latvia, coordinated through regional divisions and the Unitary Contact Centre Department. Available 24/7 to all citizens free of charge.
• Fire Safety and Civil Protection College (Ugunsdrošības un civilās aizsardzības koledža) Vocational education institution under VUGD providing professional training for firefighters and civil protection specialists, featuring a Tactical House (Taktiskā māja) for practical skills development. Operates Fire Fighting and Rescue Work Department, Education Coordination Division, Practical Exercise Division, Fire Fighting Testing Laboratory, and Provision Section.
• Latvian Firefighting Museum (Latvijas Ugunsdzēsības muzejs) Museum operated by VUGD preserving and presenting the history of firefighting in Latvia, including collection holdings and educational programming. Open to the public at Hanzas iela 5, Riga, LV-1045.
• Fire Safety Supervision and Inspection Services Statutory fire safety supervision including fire extinguisher maintenance point oversight, fire safety inspections, fire safety rule requirements, fire safety education programmes, and regulatory enforcement conducted across Latvia.
• Firefighting and Rescue Operations Firefighting and rescue operations including fire suppression, inland water rescue, underwater search operations, hazardous chemical incident response, structural collapse and building damage response, and traffic accident consequence elimination. Delivered free of charge to citizens through 91 fire stations across 5 regional departments.
• Civil Protection and Public Warning Services Civil protection services including off-site civil protection plans, municipality and state civil protection plans, shelters, cell broadcast system, the Public Warning System ABS+, and recommendations for state and municipal institutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves entire territory of Latvia (64,589 km2)
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• European Union Civil Protection MechanismcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipation in EU Civil Protection Mechanism enabling cross-border cooperation, mutual assistance in emergencies, and access to EU funding for civil protection projects. VUGD serves as the national contact point for this mechanism.
• International Association of Fire and Rescue Services (CTIF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization for fire and rescue services facilitating international cooperation, best practice exchange, and professional development among member countries.
• Federation of European Fire Officers (FEU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization bringing together fire service officers from across Europe to promote cooperation, share expertise, and advance fire safety standards in Europe.
• Interreg Latvija-Lietuva ProgrammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-border cooperation program between Latvia and Lithuania. VUGD has participated in multiple phases (2007-2013, 2014-2020) implementing joint projects for fire safety and civil protection improvement.
• Interreg Latvija-Igaunija ProgrammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-border cooperation program between Latvia and Estonia supporting joint initiatives in civil protection and emergency response.
• Baltic Sea Region ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU funding program supporting transnational cooperation in the Baltic Sea region including civil protection and emergency management projects.
• European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) Cross-border Cooperation ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU program supporting cross-border cooperation with neighboring countries in civil protection and emergency management.
• Fire Safety and Civil Protection CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution under VUGD's authority providing professional training for firefighters and civil protection specialists. Trains personnel for firefighting and rescue operations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB): Swedish agency responsible for civil protection, public safety, and emergency management. Peer in Nordic emergency response framework with shared EU Civil Protection Mechanism participation and similar organizational structure.
• Fire and Rescue Department under the Ministry of the Interior of Lithuania (PAGD): Lithuania's national fire and rescue service operating under the Ministry of the Interior. Direct Baltic counterpart sharing fire safety supervision, rescue operations, civil protection, and active cooperation via Interreg Latvia-Lithuania programs.
• Finnish Emergency Services (Pelastuslaitos / Ministry of the Interior): Finland's regional fire and rescue services coordinated nationally. Comparable Nordic-Baltic public safety mandate with 112 integration, civil preparedness, and participation in EU civil protection mechanisms alongside Latvia.
• Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB): Norway's civil protection and emergency planning directorate. Comparable Nordic public safety body with shared EU/Nordic civil protection cooperation framework relevant to VUGD's international partnerships.
• Danish Emergency Management Agency (Beredskabsstyrelsen): Denmark's national civil protection and emergency response agency under the Ministry of Defence. Comparable Northern European peer operating fire, rescue, and civil protection with EU cooperation overlap.
• Estonian Rescue Board (Päästeamet): National fire, rescue, and civil protection authority of Estonia under the Ministry of the Interior. Direct Baltic peer with similar mandate, 112 emergency operations, cross-border cooperation via the Interreg Latvia-Estonia program, and comparable scale (Estonia population ~1.4M).
• State Fire Service of Poland (Państwowa Straż Pożarna): Poland's national professional fire service under the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Larger-scale but structurally analogous agency handling firefighting, rescue, and civil protection across national territory.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ugunsdzeseji
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/VUGDvideomateriali
• Facebookfacebook.com/Latvianfirefighters
• Instagraminstagram.com/ugunsdzeseji
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/state-fire-and-rescue-service

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about State Fire and Rescue Service of Latvia / Valsts ugunsdzēsības un glābšanas dienests