Day of the emergency call
Five years of inter-municipal cooperation, ready for action around the clock and technically on the next step towards the future: on the occasion of the European 112 Emergency Call Day, the partners of the Jena - Saale-Holzland-Kreis - Saalfeld-Rudolstadt control centre cooperation are providing information on the development of the joint regional control centre, current modernization projects and the upcoming steps in the PiLOT.112 project.
"The control center cooperation has proven to be an efficient and economically viable structure over the past five years. The inter-municipal cooperation ensures that we can pool personnel, technical and organizational resources and guarantee a high level of operational readiness at all times. The great advantage of the cooperation is particularly evident in exceptional situations or high call density, because we can react flexibly, support each other and reliably guarantee emergency care for the people in the region," says Benjamin Koppe, Mayor and Head of Finance, Security and Citizen Services of the City of Jena
Five years of cooperation - synergies that work in everyday life
2026 marks the fifth anniversary of inter-municipal cooperation in the current area of responsibility. The district of Saalfeld-Rudolstadt has been served since 2021 and the Saale-Holzland district since 2002. The aim was and is to ensure an efficient control center in the long term and to exploit synergies - for example in terms of qualified personnel, the procurement of cost-intensive IT and radio technology, system support and investments in technology and equipment. For example, the city of Jena operates the central control center, which receives all emergency calls from the three local authorities and alerts and dispatches the emergency services, fire departments and disaster control. This also strengthens the ability to act in the event of major emergencies with a high call and deployment density.
"When many emergency calls come in at the same time, we need well-coordinated processes, resilient technology - and reliable partners," emphasizes Nick Ludwig, Head of Fire Service at the City of Jena. "Our claim is: fast, clear and professional - so that the right forces are at the right place as early as possible."
From the perspective of the Saale-Holzland district, the joint control center is also an important building block for safety in the area: "What counts for our region is that help can be coordinated even under high stress - from traffic accidents to major storms," says Christian Meyfarth, district fire inspector of the Saale-Holzland district. "The cooperation creates stability, ensures professionalism and ensures that we remain capable of acting at the crucial moment."
The district of Saalfeld-Rudolstadt says: "Inter-municipal cooperation is a living example of services of general interest: jointly efficient, jointly resilient," says Olaf Neugärtner, Head of Public Order and Safety, Environment in the district of Saalfeld-Rudolstadt. "The control centre cooperation is a strong example of this - professionally, organizationally and economically."
"Civil protection does not end at district borders," adds Markus Wimmer, Rescue Service Officer for the district of Saalfeld-Rudolstadt. "With the cooperation model, we are strengthening operational coordination in everyday life and the ability to respond in exceptional situations - that's exactly what matters." New special-purpose agreements were concluded last fall in order to continue and further strengthen the cooperation in the future.
Technology update: communication system for radio and telephony is being replaced
The communication system for radio and telephony is currently being comprehensively upgraded in order to keep it technically up to date and create the basis for new functions - including innovative solutions such as live translation in the future. The measure cost around 70,000 euros.
"Modern control center work requires modern systems - robust, fail-safe and expandable," says Ludwig. "We are investing in technology that supports our dispatchers and thus directly improves security of supply."
Outlook: PiLOT.112 - redundancy with Gera until 2030
A new set of regulations issued by the state of Thuringia in 2025 defines comprehensive requirements for control centers. They are being implemented in Jena as part of the PiLOT.112 project in cooperation with the Gera control center. A joint redundancy is to be established by 2030 - including a new joint operations control system, structured emergency call query, new digital radio connection, structural expansions at the Jena site and the fulfillment of KRITIS requirements (critical infrastructures). As a first step, a specialist planner will be put out to tender; the procurement of a system for structured emergency call interrogation is also to begin this year. The state is providing 70 percent of the funding for the project.
"With PiLOT.112, we are focusing specifically on redundancy and thus strengthening the reliability of control center work. The aim is to reliably maintain emergency call acceptance and deployment coordination even if technology fails or exceptional situations occur. Redundant systems, high IT security and clearly defined processes are key prerequisites for this. Together with the Gera control center and with the support of the Free State of Bavaria, we are creating a resilient structure that will meet the increasing demands of civil protection and crisis resilience in the long term," emphasizes Benjamin Koppe.
112 Emergency Call Day: Standardized in the EU - and vital in an emergency
"On average, the control center handles between 200 and 250 calls for emergency services, fire departments and civil protection every day," reports Benjamin Koppe.
The emergency number 112 is the standardized emergency number throughout Europe and is valid in all EU member states. The control center coordinates assistance in the event of medical emergencies, fires and accidents. Operations officers make targeted enquiries, alert the necessary personnel and - if necessary - also give instructions over the phone, for example for telephone resuscitation until the emergency services arrive.
"In an emergency, dial 112 - and state the location first," emphasizes Nick Ludwig. "The more precise the information, the faster help will arrive."
"112 is the most important number in an emergency situation - we encourage people to use it correctly," says Wimmer. "Clear information helps us to dispatch the right resources more quickly."
Facts about the Jena control center
Call and deployment figures from 2025:
- Emergency calls via 112 in 2025: 56,166 emergency calls
- 153 emergency calls per day on average
- Total calls to the control center: 172,732 incoming calls
- 473 calls per day on average
- Radio communication over 3,000 messages and status information daily
- Total deployments in 2025: 72,501 deployments, of which:
- 4,621 firefighting operations
- Small fires: 459
- Fires in homes, buildings, fire alarm systems: 968
- Confirmed major fires: 22
- Small-scale assistance (oil spills, stretcher assistance, door openings, trees, water damage): 2.417
- Traffic accidents: 379
- Large-scale assistance (accidents, rescue from heights, water rescue: 42)
- Incidents in tunnels: 6
- There were 66,984 operations for the rescue service
- Rescue service and emergency doctor: 43,519
- Of which
- internal emergencies: 21,978, including 599 resuscitations
- Neurological emergencies: 4,337
- Psychiatric emergencies: 1,918
- Intoxications: 963
- Pediatric emergencies: 425
- Trauma/accidents (traffic accidents)/accidents: 11,232
- Gynecological emergencies: 315
- KTW deployments (ambulances): 23.461
- Helicopter secondary: 878
- 896 were other operations that were not relevant for the rescue service or fire department
- 4,621 firefighting operations
General conditions
- Approx. 300,000 inhabitants in the area of responsibility
- Area of 1,938.74 km², this area extends from the Bavarian-Thuringian state border in the south to the state border with Saxony-Anhalt in the north
Personnel
- Monday to Friday staffed with eight emergency response officers; Saturday, Sunday and public holidays with 7 emergency response officers
- A total of 34 colleagues work in the control center's operations service
- 4 colleagues on day duty (team leader, office manager, 2 x application support for the operations control system)
Tasks:
- Receiving emergency calls 112
- Receiving other emergency messages via fire alarm systems, external control centers (police, neighboring control centers, etc.)
- Coordination of operations for emergency rescue, ambulance services, fire departments and disaster control
- The Jena regional control center is also responsible for dispatching the secondary air rescue service for the whole of Thuringia
Costs
- Operation of the control center with all cost factors costs approx. 3.9 million euros per year and includes all cost factors
- personnel
- technical operation
- Building maintenance
- IT services
- Maintenance and repair
- the share attributable to the rescue service is refinanced