State Fire Service
State Fire Service (, PSP) is a professional fire fighting (24h) service of Poland. It is subordinate to the Ministry of Interior. The history of fire fighting services in Poland dates to the medieval times. The modern State Fire Service is based on the 1992 legislation. State Fire Service covers the entire territory of Poland. In all the second-level units of local government and administration in Poland - powiat (county, district) -, fire brigades operate district headquarters ("Komenda Powiatowa Państwowej Straży Pożarnej)," city headquarters in bigger cities "(Komenda Miejska Państwowej Straży Pożarnej)" with command posts and dispatch centers alongside  one or several fire stations ("Jednostka Ratowniczo-Gaśnicza" JRG). They are subject to 16 provincial headquarters ("Komenda Wojewódzka Państwowej Straży Pożarnej"). Professional firefighters (PSP) respond immediately after the alarm and are often assisted by volunteers associated in Voluntary Fire Service ("Ochotnicza Straż Pożarna", OSP) with more than 15 700 fire stations in nearly every bigger settlement. Each Voivodeship Headquarters supervises District Headquarters (335 in 2019) and fire-fighting units. Structure. The State Fire Service operates 5 fire academies: Voluntary Fire Service. In Poland local inhabitants may create a Voluntary Fire Department ("Ochotnicza Straż Pożarna", "OSP") under proper law. Such departments  may receive financial assistance from the government for purchasing equipment or training the staff. In certain areas of Poland almost every town and village has a volunteer fire department. Volunteer fire departments are usually fully integrated into the state emergency system "(Krajowy System Ratowniczo-Gaśniczy, KSRG)". Any call to the fire emergency number is routed to the nearest State Fire Service (PSP) station in powiat ("Komenda Powiatowa PSP") that coordinates the forces in the area. After the alarm, the volunteers arrive to the fire station and then respond to the emergency. Ranks and rank insignia. Source: Firefighters from State Fire  Service (PSP, JRG) use red helmets. Firefighters from Voluntary Fire Service (OSP) use white helmets.