ZAGREB'S ASSOCIATION OF PROFFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS 

How it all began:

The first idea about starting the Association came about back in 2003, during the first «Open Doors Day».

Why then? Well, the reason is very simple and we need to look for it in the many years, which preceded the idea.

We could roughly divide the people of the City of Zagreb into three groups when it comes to the subject of professional firefighting. The first group consists of people who know exactly who firefighters are and what they do, the second of those who have no idea that such a thing even exists and the third of those who have heard of firefighters but have no opinion about them or have a very bad opinion due to lack of information.

Sadly, the second and third group amounted for approximately 90% of the people of Zagreb and that is the reason people didn't care much for firefighters, and also why we didn't try very hard to make this situation better.
And then Zagreb's Professional Firefighting Department decided to open its doors to the public for the very first time since it was founded, for the first time in its 93 year long history.

The people's interest was greater than we expected so we, firemen, were satisfied. When the doors closed again that day, we sat down and discussed how many people visited us, and all the events of the day, and we reached the conclusion that it would be a shame to just leave it at that.

Considering that the people had shown an interest in firefighting it was our turn to give them the opportunity to get to know us better and by doing so start being more appreciative of us.

That is when the idea was born to found an Association, which could represent the interests of firefighting and promote firefighting activity to people all year long.

However, several days later everyone became involved in their daily duties again and the whole thing was forgotten.

As the date of the second «Open Doors Day» approached, the idea of founding the Association was awakened once again.

And so on August 28th 2004, we held a founding meeting of «Zagreb's Association of Professional Firefighters of the City of Zagreb» with the following agenda: (see the record)

It took another month to get all the paperwork done.
On September 27th 2004, the professional firefighters of the City of Zagreb got their Association.

The founding meeting records:

On August 28th 2004, a founding meeting of Zagreb's Association of Professional firefighters was held.

Present were: Patrik Cuncic, Renato Havel, Danijel Smrekar, Mario Benkovic, Siniša Bertek, Damir Zubec, Zvonko Cunovic.

Agenda:

1. The founding and appropriation of the Association's Statute;
2. The election of Chairmanship, chairman and secretary;
3. Various.

 Ad. 1.

Siniša Bertek gave an introductory speech and explained the reasons for founding the association, its goals and main activities.

All present unanimously reached the decision to found the Association and appropriated the Statute of Zagreb’s Association of professional firefighters of the City of Zagreb.

Ad. 2.

The founders unanimously chose these members of the Chairmanship:
Siniša Bertek, chairman;
Mario Benkovic, secretary;
Renato Havel, member. 

Ad. 3.

The founders support and give authority to the chairman to submit a request for the Association to be entered in the register of associations to the authorized legislation office.