Debrecen4U June 25, 2026

Debrecen’s Storm Alert Mobile Application Now in Testing Phase

At today’s city council meeting, Imre Nagy, Head of the Debrecen Disaster Management Branch, said that a total of 4,146 call-outs were made within the command’s operational area in 2025, including 1,164 fire incidents and 2,982 technical rescue operations. Compared with the previous year, the number of deployments increased by 19 per cent. While the number of fire incidents fell by 20 per cent, technical rescue operations increased by 30 per cent. He added that the growing number of personal emergency alarm devices and automatic fire alarm systems has improved safety, although it has also increased their workload.

The number of false alarms remains high; of the 1,164 deployments to fire incidents, firefighters responded to false alarms in 634 cases. Within the command’s area of responsibility, four people lost their lives in fires, while 11 people died in accidents requiring technical rescue. Firefighters saved a total of 37 lives last year.

He also noted that Debrecen’s economic development has created additional responsibilities for the service. Numerous familiarisation exercises were held at new facilities either under construction or recently commissioned within the operational area. The colonel highlighted the work of the volunteer fire brigades, which provided substantial assistance, including during the clean-up operations following the summer storms.

During the council meeting, city leadership and several councillors expressed their gratitude to the firefighters, highlighting the tremendous effort they made in dealing with the damage caused by last summer’s storms.

Mayor László Papp recalled that, after last year’s major storms, he had promised that work would begin on a storm warning system for Debrecen, capable of alerting residents to potential dangers through push notifications. He announced that development is now complete and the testing phase has begun for a mobile application on both Android and iOS platforms. Once testing has been completed and the necessary approvals obtained, the application will be released to the public.

Speaking on behalf of residents, Éva Kozma, President of the Mikepércs Mothers for the Environment Association (MIAKÖ), stated that according to information available to the organisation, an adequate quantity of firefighting foam was unavailable at the Semcorp plant for six consecutive days. She asked how such a situation could occur at a facility classified as high risk.

Colonel Imre Nagy replied that, since October 2024, fire safety regulatory powers have no longer been exercised by the fire service but by the competent department of the Government Office, meaning the disaster management authority is no longer authorised to conduct inspections.

According to László Papp, if those concerned believe that these powers should be returned to the disaster management authority, they could make a proposal to the legislative body.

The report was adopted unanimously.

Source and photo credit: dehir.hu