More emergency calls and deployments for protection & rescue in 2025
In 2025, the paramedics and firefighters from Zurich Protection & Rescue carried out a total of 47,016 operations, almost two percent more than in the previous year. The number of emergency calls received was around six percent higher than the previous year.
Protection & Rescue Zurich (SRZ) took 168,379 calls last year (2024: 159,403) on the emergency numbers 144 and 118. On average, an emergency call was received every three minutes. In the dispatch area, which includes the cantons of Zurich, Schaffhausen, Schwyz and Zug, 141,529 emergency calls were received via the 144 number. The fire department emergency number 118 was dialed 26,850 times in the canton of Zurich.
Rescue service slightly above previous year
The SRZ paramedics were called out 41,328 times, almost one percent more than in the previous year. Of these, 26,365 deployments were in the city of Zurich. The other 10,149 deployments were in the 22 contracting municipalities and Zurich Airport. The transfer service transported around 4,814 patients.
More deployments for professional and militia fire departments
In 2025, the number of fire department deployments in the city of Zurich and at Zurich Airport increased by around ten percent, with 5688 deployments. Around a third of the incidents involved fire alarm systems, 15 percent were fire incidents and around ten percent each were due to natural hazards such as storms, burst water pipes and environmental hazards. The rescue services also helped with accidents and the recovery of people, animals and property. The services provided by the militia fire department, the majority of which were planned operations, increased slightly.
Decline in civil defense
Last year, the 1149 members of the civil defense performed 6385 days of service, which is below the previous year's level. The «Aktiv plus» services - such as transporting patients on behalf of the city's nursing homes and retirement centers - decreased by around ten percent with 2192 deployments.
More building inspections for the fire police
Last year, fire safety experts from the fire police carried out 706 building inspections, an increase of 11% compared to the previous year. The 983 final inspections of new buildings or conversions were down slightly, while 99% of all building applications were processed within the specified deadlines.
