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National Fire and Rescue Authority Law, 5772-2012

חוק הרשות הארצית לכבאות והצלה, תשע"ב-2012

Published: 2012-08-08Consolidated Hebrew text as of 2026-06-21 · Last amended 2026-03-31✓ Amendment status checked against the Knesset legislation record on 2026-09-29
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Unofficial English translation — for reference only. It may contain errors or omissions and cannot be relied on as a legal text. Only the Hebrew text published in Reshumot is legally binding.More

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Section B: Volunteers and Persons Serving in Civic-Security Service

Volunteers§
17.
(a)The Fire and Rescue Authority may avail itself of volunteers from within Israel and from outside Israel.
(b)
(1)A firefighter unit may be composed of firefighters, volunteers or both (in this Section – a unit);
(2)The Commissioner may establish a unit composed solely of volunteers, subject to standards determined by the Commissioner; in determining such standards, the Commissioner shall take into account, inter alia, the proposed location of the unit, its distance from fire stations, its proximity to a forest or woodland and the level of risk arising from all of these.
(c)A district commander may appoint a person to be a volunteer if all of the following conditions are fulfilled in relation to that person:
(1)the person is at least 15 years of age; however, if the person has not yet reached the age of 18 – the person has presented a letter of consent from the person's parents or guardian;
(2)the person meets eligibility conditions as prescribed by the Minister, in relation to education, practical and professional training, physical fitness, state of health and the passing of examinations; in Regulations under this paragraph the Minister may prescribe different conditions according to the categories of volunteers determined, including in relation to their age;
(3)the person has not been convicted of a criminal offence or a disciplinary offence which, by reason of its nature, gravity or circumstances, renders the person unfit to be a volunteer;
(4)an examining committee appointed by the Commissioner has recommended the person's appointment as a volunteer.
(d)At a fire and rescue incident, where there is concern of immediate harm to human life or property, a volunteer shall, while performing duties, be vested with the following powers:
(1)when acting in the presence of a firefighter and in order to assist the firefighter – all the powers under section 21;
(2)in a unit approved by the Commissioner for this purpose –
(a)until the arrival of a firefighter – all the powers under sections 21 and 22;
(b)after the arrival of a firefighter, in the firefighter's presence and in order to assist the firefighter – all the powers under section 21.
Disciplinary Law§
18.
(a)The State Service (Discipline) Law shall not apply to a volunteer, and disciplinary law shall apply to a volunteer in accordance with provisions under the Fire Services Law for as long as those provisions remain in force pursuant to the provisions of section 147(c).
(b)A unit commander who is a firefighter shall be empowered to bring a volunteer before disciplinary proceedings for an offence prescribed under the Fire Services Law as referred to in subsection (a), and to impose upon the volunteer a penalty of warning, reprimand, restriction of volunteering or termination thereof, only.
Absence of Entitlement to Wages and Absence of Employer-Employee Relations§
19.

A volunteer shall not be entitled to wages or a salary for service, and employer-employee relations shall not exist between the volunteer and the Authority.

Application of the Public Service (Gifts) Law§
20.

Volunteers shall have the same status as public employees for the purposes of the Public Service (Gifts) Law, 5740-1979.

Persons Serving in Civic-Security Service§
20a.

The provisions of section 16 and this Section, except section 17(b)(2), the provisions of sections 84 and 85, and the Regulations specified in section 147(a)(13) and (14), shall apply to a person serving in civic-security service and to a volunteer in national service or in community volunteering, all with the necessary modifications.

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Chapter IV: Treatment of Incidents

Section A: Powers for Treatment of an Incident

Powers of a Firefighter in the Performance of His Duty§
21.

A firefighter may, in order to treat a fire and rescue incident or to prevent its spread, to save human life or property, to the extent required by the circumstances of the matter, for the purpose of performing his duty and in accordance with fire and rescue orders in that regard, do all of the following:

(1)enter any place in which a fire and rescue incident is occurring or into which it is liable to spread, as well as an adjacent place into which there is a need to enter;
(2)use property and cause harm to property;
(3)carry out any reasonable action required by the circumstances of the matter.
Powers of a Fire and Rescue Officer§
22.

Where a fire and rescue officer has found that a danger of harm to human life or property exists, or that the actions set out below are required in order to prevent the spread of fire due to a fire and rescue incident, he may, so long as the danger or the apprehension of the spread of fire exists, and to the extent required for the purpose of preventing the said danger or the spread of fire, exercise the powers set out in paragraphs (1) to (3), for the purpose of performing his duty:

(1)to close an area or place, and to prevent any person from entering or leaving it, until a police officer arrives at the place;
(2)to require any person in the area of the incident or in an area liable to be affected as a result of the incident to remain in the place where he is, to leave it, or to enter a place he has designated;
(3)to give any person present in the area of the incident or in an area in which the danger or apprehension of the spread of fire exists, any reasonable instruction vitally necessary for the purpose of saving human life or property, or for preventing the harm or the spread of fire.
Enforcement of Compliance§
23.

A firefighter may use reasonable force against a person or property for the purpose of carrying out actions as referred to in sections 21 and 28, and for the purpose of enforcing compliance with instructions lawfully given under sections 22 and 29.

Volunteers at an Incident§
24.
(a)Where a fire and rescue officer has found that the manpower available to him is insufficient for the treatment of a fire and rescue incident, he may permit a person who appears to be 18 years of age or older and who has volunteered to assist in firefighting and rescue operations to assist in firefighting and rescue operations.
(b)A person who has volunteered under this section shall be regarded as a volunteer, and the powers referred to in section 17(d)(1) shall be vested in him; however, the provisions of section 18 shall not apply.
(c)A court shall not entertain a claim against a person who volunteered under subsection (a) in respect of an act or omission committed in the framework of assistance in firefighting and rescue operations as referred to in that subsection, which gives rise to liability in torts.
Requisition of Equipment and Materials in Special Circumstances§
25.
(a)During a fire and rescue incident in which an apprehension of immediate harm to human life or property arises, a fire and rescue officer may, if he has found that the equipment or materials available to him are insufficient for the treatment of such an incident, do all of the following for the purpose of carrying out the urgently required actions:
(1)use equipment or materials in the possession of any person;
(2)give instructions to any person regarding assistance and the use of equipment or materials.
(b)Where a person has placed equipment at the disposal of the Fire and Rescue Authority pursuant to an instruction under subsection (a), the equipment shall be returned, except for material that has been consumed, to the person from whom it was taken, immediately upon the conclusion of the treatment of the fire and rescue incident or at the end of a period not exceeding two days from the date of the giving of the instruction; if the treatment of the incident has not concluded within two days, the Commissioner may extend the period for a further period, to the extent required for the purpose of treating the incident.
(c)An equipment owner is entitled to payment for the expenses involved in the return of the equipment to his possession, at a rate to be prescribed by Regulations as referred to in subsection (f).
(d)If equipment was not returned or damage was caused to equipment placed at the disposal of the Fire and Rescue Authority pursuant to an instruction given under subsection (a), the State Treasury shall compensate the equipment owner for the equipment that was not returned as aforesaid, or for any damage caused to the equipment, and usage fees shall also be paid for the equipment.
(e)A decision regarding the grant of compensation as referred to in subsection (d) and regarding its amount shall be given within 45 days from the date of submission of a request for compensation, and the compensation shall be paid within 30 days from the date of the decision.
(f)The Minister, with the consent of the Minister of Finance and with the approval of the National Security Committee of the Knesset, shall prescribe provisions regarding the ways of submitting a request by an equipment owner for compensation, including the time for submitting a request, the manner of determining the compensation, the rate of usage fees for the equipment, reimbursement of expenses, and payment of interest and linkage differentials in respect of such payments that were not paid on time.
(g)The provisions of subsections (c) to (f) shall not apply to equipment placed at the disposal of the Fire and Rescue Authority for the purpose of treating a fire and rescue incident that occurred on an asset owned by the equipment owner.
(h)A person shall have no cause of action under any law in respect of damage caused to equipment placed at the disposal of the Fire and Rescue Authority pursuant to an instruction given under subsection (a), or in connection with expenses incurred by him or profit prevented from him as a result of the placement of the equipment as aforesaid, except under the provisions of this section.
(i)In this section —

"equipment owner" — in respect of equipment registered under law, the registered owner; and in respect of other equipment, a person who has proved, in a manner to be prescribed by Regulations, that he is the owner of the equipment;

"equipment" — including material.

Use of Water§
26.
(a)For the purpose of treating a fire and rescue incident, a firefighter may use water from any source located in any place and the equipment and installations required for that purpose.
(b)The Fire and Rescue Authority shall indemnify a person for water used by it under this section; the Minister shall prescribe the manner and amount of the indemnification with the consent of the council of the Government Water and Sewerage Authority and with the consent of the Minister of Finance.
Powers of a Firefighter and a Fire and Rescue Officer§
27.
(a)Every power vested in a fire and rescue officer under this Chapter is, in the absence of the officer, vested in the firefighter of the most senior rank at the incident.
(b)A power vested in a fire and rescue officer under this Chapter shall be vested only in a fire and rescue officer serving in the position prescribed in the First Schedule.

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Section B: Treatment of a Hazardous Materials Incident

Functions during a Hazardous Materials Incident§
28.

During a hazardous materials incident and during a preparedness drill for a hazardous materials incident, in addition to any other function, each entity listed in paragraphs (1) and (2) shall have the function stated beside it:

(1)an Authority employee who has received appropriate training therefor —
(a)detection, identification and monitoring of hazardous materials during a hazardous materials incident;
(b)risk assessment during a hazardous materials incident;
(2)a fire and rescue officer who has received appropriate training therefor —
(a)providing professional advice to a police officer or an Israel Defence Forces officer at their request, regarding one of the following:
(1)the manner of handling hazardous materials, in order to prevent, reduce or stop danger to persons and the environment;
(2)behavioural instructions for the public and rescue bodies;
(b)in this paragraph, "police officer" and "Israel Defence Forces officer" — as defined in section 90a of the Police Ordinance.
Powers during a Hazardous Materials Incident§
29.
(a)Where an apprehension exists of the occurrence of a hazardous materials incident, an Authority employee shall have, in addition to the powers listed in Section A, and for the purpose of performing his functions under section 28, the following powers:
(1)to require any person present in the area of the incident, or a person where any of them has reasonable grounds to believe that he has a connection to the incident or information relating to it, to provide him with his name and address and to present to him an identity card or other official document identifying him;
(2)to require any person present in the area of the incident, or a person where any of them has reasonable grounds to believe that he has a connection to the incident or information relating to it, to provide him with any information or document required by him for the purpose of performing his functions; in this paragraph, "document" — including a printout, as defined in the Computers Law, 5755-1995;
(3)to conduct examinations or measurements or to take samples of a substance, from any substance that he has reasonable grounds to believe is a hazardous material;
(4)to conduct a search of a place without a judicial warrant, if he has reasonable grounds to believe that hazardous materials are present in that place, and to seize a substance that he has reasonable grounds to believe is a hazardous material, all to the extent required for saving human life or property or for reducing the scope of a hazardous materials incident or its consequences; a substance seized as aforesaid shall be returned, to the extent possible and at the earliest opportunity, after the conclusion of the hazardous materials incident and to the person from whom it was seized.
(b)An Authority employee shall not exercise powers as referred to in subsection (a) unless —
(1)he has received appropriate training in the area of the powers that are to be vested in him under this Section, as the Commissioner has directed;
(2)he meets additional fitness conditions, to the extent the Minister has directed.
Reporting and Savings Provisions§
30.
(a)Upon becoming aware of the existence of a hazardous materials incident, and also after its conclusion, a fire and rescue officer shall report on the incident to the superintendent at the Ministry of Environmental Protection.
(b)Nothing in the provisions of this Section shall derogate from the powers of the superintendent at the Ministry of Environmental Protection.
(c)In this section, "superintendent at the Ministry of Environmental Protection" — a superintendent as defined in the Hazardous Materials Law.

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Section C: Firefighting Teams

Industrial Firefighting and Rescue Team§
31.
(a)In this section —

"plant" — any place in which special fire risks or a special risk of a hazardous materials incident exist, as prescribed under subsection (b);

"plant owner" — including its manager or the person holding it.

(b)The Minister, with the approval of the National Security Committee of the Knesset, shall prescribe categories of plants to which the provisions of this section shall apply, such as a power station, industrial plant, seaport, airport and storage facility; Regulations as referred to in this subsection regarding categories of plants in which a special risk of a hazardous materials incident exists shall also be made in consultation with the Minister of Environmental Protection and the Minister of Economy and Industry.
(c)The Commissioner may, by Order, direct a plant owner to maintain at his plant a firefighting and rescue team with training to operate at a fire and rescue incident until the forces of the Fire and Rescue Authority arrive at the site of the incident, and to assist the Authority in its operations upon its arrival at the site of the incident (in this Law — an industrial firefighting and rescue team); however, the Commissioner shall not require that an industrial firefighting and rescue team have training to operate at a hazardous materials incident except in respect of a plant of a category prescribed under subsection (b) as having a special risk of a hazardous materials incident.
(d)During a fire and rescue incident, a member of an industrial firefighting and rescue team shall be regarded as a volunteer, the powers under section 21 shall be vested in him, and the provisions of section 24(c) shall apply to him; and in a plant in which a special risk of a hazardous materials incident exists, the powers under section 29(a)(3) shall also be vested in him for the purpose of detection, identification and monitoring of hazardous materials.
(e)In an Order under subsection (c), the Commissioner may give directions regarding the composition of an industrial firefighting and rescue team, its equipment, training, exercises, methods of operation, and any other direction required for the performance of its functions.
Firefighting Teams for Open Areas§
32.
(a)The Commissioner may, by Order, direct the Nature and National Parks Protection Authority and the bodies responsible for forests and groves, including the Jewish National Fund, to maintain firefighting teams with training to operate at a fire incident in areas under their responsibility until the forces of the Fire and Rescue Authority arrive at the site, and to assist the Authority in its operations upon its arrival at the site of the incident (in this Law — firefighting teams for open areas).
(b)During a fire incident, a member of a firefighting team for open areas shall be regarded as a volunteer, the powers under section 21 shall be vested in him, and the provisions of section 24(c) shall apply to him.
(c)In an Order under subsection (a), the Commissioner may give directions regarding the composition of firefighting teams for open areas, their equipment, training, exercises, methods of operation, and any other direction required for the performance of their functions.
(d)An Order under subsection (a) directing a matter regarding one of the following shall be given —
(1)regarding the Nature and National Parks Protection Authority — after consultation with it and with the consent of the Minister of Environmental Protection;
(2)regarding forests and groves — after consultation with the body responsible for them and with the consent of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development;
(3)to a local authority — with the consent of the Minister of the Interior.
Agreement for the Establishment of a Firefighting Team as an Alternative to an Order§
33.

As an alternative to an Order under section 31 or 32, the Commissioner may conclude an agreement with the owner of a plant, or with a body as referred to in section 32, for the establishment of an industrial firefighting and rescue team or a firefighting team for open areas, as the case may be, and for the arrangement of the matters set out in section 31(e) or 32(c); if such an agreement has expired or been cancelled, the Commissioner may give an Order under section 31 or 32.

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