On March 1, 1980, the Professional Firefighting Unit (PGE) Krško was established in Krško by the Municipality of Krško. The Krško Nuclear Power Plant and the then Đuro Salaj Krško Pulp and Paper Factory contractually joined in utilizing the services of PGE Krško. Initially, the unit operated as a service within the Self-Governing Interest Community for Fire Protection.
Immediately after its establishment, construction of new garages and office spaces began next to the existing municipal fire association building on Tovarniška Street.
The PGE facility consisted of the old ground-floor building of the Municipal Fire Association (OGZ) Krško and a newly built section completed in 1980.
The old part was partially used by PGE for a dispatch room, common shift areas, fire extinguisher servicing, breathing apparatus servicing and filling, a boiler room, and two garages. The remaining space continued to be used by the Videm ob Savi Volunteer Fire Department (PGD Videm ob Savi) and the Industrial Fire Department (IGD) of the Pulp and Paper Factory.
The new section was built on two floors and still serves its purpose today.
The ground floor includes seven garages, sanitary facilities, a materials warehouse, a rest area, and a protective clothing storage room.
The upper floor houses the offices of the commander-director, secretariat, accounting, service heads, shift leaders, the OGZ Krško office, archives, a changing room with washrooms, a lecture hall, and a gym for fitness training.
The unit’s construction and operation were financed through the municipal budget and contracts with external partners.
As the Pulp and Paper Factory already had an industrial fire department, its professional personnel were integrated into PGE, along with some employees from the Krško Nuclear Power Plant who had been responsible for fire safety during the plant’s construction.
The first commander of PGE Krško was Engineer Franc Černelič.
At the time of its establishment, PGE Krško had equipment that was previously part of the industrial fire department of the Pulp and Paper Factory, including:
At the time of its establishment, PGE Krško had equipment that was previously part of the industrial fire department of the Pulp and Paper Factory, including:
- TAM 125 combination vehicle (16/8 pump, 2200 L water, 4×4 drive, 1971)
- TAM 125 combination vehicle (16/8 pump, 2200 L water, 4×4 drive, 1980)
- TAM tanker truck (16/8 pump, 5000 L water, 1976)
- IMV van
- Zastava pick-up van for RGA service (1981)
- Mercedes command vehicle
- IDA-OPEL rescue vehicle (1980)
Additionally, the Krško Nuclear Power Plant contributed: - Mercedes MB technical rescue vehicle with Ziegler upgrade and Palfinger crane
- Mercedes MB aerial platform with Bronto Sky Lift upgrade
- Mercedes MB fire tanker with Vatrosprem upgrade
By the end of 1980, PGE Krško had 34 operational firefighters and three administrative-technical staff.
Upon establishment, PGE Krško’s tasks included:
- Ensuring fire safety in companies with permanent contracts.
- Extinguishing fires and rescuing people and property during fires, traffic accidents, and other emergencies, including natural disasters and wartime incidents.
- Organizing a firefighting duty service.
- Organizing and conducting professional training for citizens, volunteer fire brigades, Civil Protection fire units, and workers in associated organizations.
- Managing the procurement of modern firefighting equipment.
- Producing firefighting tools and equipment for its own needs and volunteer units.
- Maintaining equipment, machinery, and fire protection infrastructure for its own and volunteer fire departments’ needs.
- Collaborating with volunteer fire brigades in their activities.
- Developing operational plans for fire extinguishing and rescue operations for critical infrastructure.
- Servicing all types of fire extinguishers and fire protection systems for businesses and public institutions.
- Testing and certifying new firefighting tools, equipment, and rescue systems.
- Assessing fire safety compliance of buildings and issuing relevant documents.ugotavljanje ustreznosti raznih objektov glede na požarno varnost z izdajanjem ustreznih dokumentov
- Delivering drinking water to remote settlements during dry periods.
(Source: ACT ON THE ESTABLISHMENT of the Professional Firefighting Unit Krško, 29.09.1987)
In 1998, PGE Krško signed a permanent cooperation agreement with the Brestanica Thermal Power Plant, significantly improving the unit’s financial stability. The decline of the Pulp and Paper Factory, which was a key contractual partner, and its sale to a Czech owner had previously weakened the unit’s financial position.
That year, PGE Krško acquired its first new fire truck, a Mercedes MB combination vehicle with Lohr upgrade.
By 2000, the aging fleet and insufficient funding for vehicle replacements led PGE Krško to propose a Development Program (2000–2006) to the Municipality of Krško and contractual partners (NEK, VIPAP, and TEB). This agreement, accepted by all stakeholders, enabled the acquisition of new firefighting vehicles starting in 2001, including:
- 2001 – GVC 24/50 fire tanker
- 2002 – TRV1 Land Rover Defender command vehicle
- 2002 – GVC 16/24 MB Unimog U400 fire truck
- 2003 – MB Actros 3348 fire tanker
- 2003 – Zodiac firefighting rescue boat
- 2005 – TRV2-D MB 1625 Atego technical rescue vehicle
- 2006 – VW Transporter 2.5 TDI logistics vehicle
Between 2010 and 2023, additional vehicles were acquired:
- 2010 – Citroën Jumper service vehicle
- 2013 – ALK 32 MB 1529 Atego aerial ladder
- 2014 – HTRV-1 VW Transporter 2.0 TDI 4M technical rescue vehicle
- 2016 – GVC 16/24 MB 1530 Atego fire truck
- 2017 – Citroën Berlingo 1.2i logistics vehicle
- 2017 – Pioner Multi III rescue boat
- 2018 – PV-2 Škoda Kodiaq 2.0 TDI 4×4 command vehicle
- 2021 – YAM380A Tf firefighting rescue boat
- 2022 – AC35/60 Volvo FMX 480 fire tanker
- 2023 – VW Caddy logistics vehicle
- 2023 – VW Transporter Caravelle logistics vehicle
Since its establishment, PGE Krško has been led by:
1. Franc Černelič (13.03.1980 – 30.09.1987) – Director-Commander
2. Bogdan Lubšina (01.04.1980 – 31.01.1993) – Deputy Commander (Operational Leader)
3. Anton Podgoršek (01.10.1987 – 15.03.1988) – Acting Director-Commander
4. Franc Curhalek (16.03.1988 – 24.11.1991) – Director-Commander
5. Blaž Željko Kolar (25.11.1991 – 30.12.1999) – Director-Commander
6. Matjaž Tabor (31.12.1999 – 27.09.2000) – Acting Director-Commander
7. Damjan Lah (28.09.2000 – 31.01.2001) – Director-Commander
8. Franc Pavlin (01.02.2001 – 15.05.2001) – Acting Director-Commander
9. Anton Žigante (16.05.2001 – 22.03.2010) – Director-Commander
10. Joško Žvar (23.03.2010 – 23.03.2018) – Director-Commander
11. Stanislav Dvoršek: from 15.07.1995 to 01.01.2017, operationally led the unit as Head of Operations
12. Aleš Stopar: from 01.01.2017 to 24.03.2018, operationally led the unit as Head of Operations
13. Aleš Stopar: from 24.03.2018 to 01.05.2018 – Acting Director-Commander
14. Aleš Stopar: from 01.05.2018 – Director-Commander
15. Anton Starc: from 01.09.2020 – Head of Operations