Karlovy Vary begins construction of 549 million CZK emergency operations center

Construction has begun on a new joint Integrated Rescue System (IZS) operations center in Karlovy Vary, a pilot project valued at approximately 549 million CZK. The facility aims to unify dispatch services for police, firefighters, paramedics, municipal guards, and the military to ensure faster information sharing and more efficient coordination during emergencies.

Governor Petr Kubis noted that the project could serve as a model for the rest of the Czech Republic, potentially integrating data from transport, hospitals, the prison service, ČEZ, schools, and health statistics. The project is supported by 350 million CZK from the Just Transition Operational Program and 85 million CZK from the Integrated Regional Operational Program, with the Karlovarský region covering the remaining costs.

While the various services will share a building, regional police director Michal Šavrni stated that the units will continue to operate autonomously. Firefighting regional director Oldřich Volf emphasized that improved coordination during extraordinary events could save critical minutes or even hours during emergency responses.