Martin Legner is a colonel and, since 1 October 2026, Director General of the Hasičský záchranný sbor České republiky [1][2]. Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar chose him from three candidates on the basis of a selection procedure and announced this on 30 September 2026; he appointed him to the post on 1 October [1][2]. The Director General’s term of office is five years [3].

Career

He has worked in the interior ministry’s sector since 2003, when he started as an ordinary police officer [2][3]. He joined the fire service in 2012 and since 2022 has headed, at the General Directorate, the department of the integrated rescue system and fire protection units [2][3]. His predecessor Vladimír Vlček’s term ended in mid-July 2026, and the corps was then led by the acting deputy Petr Ošlejšek [1][3].

Plans

At a press conference on 1 October 2026, Legner said he wants to create special teams of experts for dealing with large-scale crisis events, which could be set up by mid-2027 [1]. He named protection of the population and crisis management, personnel matters and funding as priorities [1]. Under the budget approved by the government, firefighters are to have almost 19 billion crowns in expenditure in 2027, and the number of service posts is to rise by a hundred to 11,000 [1]. Over a five-year horizon Legner would consider an increase of 700 to 900 posts ideal, primarily for intervention work; in investments he wants to emphasise repairs and reconstruction of fire stations and the replacement of ageing equipment [1].

Chronology

  • — Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar appointed Colonel Martin Legner, following a selection procedure, as Director General of the Hasičský záchranný sbor České republiky with effect from 1 October 2026. → ČTK / České noviny ČT24
  • — At a press conference, the new Director General of the Hasičský záchranný sbor České republiky, Martin Legner, announced a plan to create special teams for large-scale crisis events, which could be set up by mid-2027. → ČTK / České noviny iDNES.cz

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Sources

  1. ČTK / České noviny — 1 October 2026
  2. iDNES.cz — 30 September 2026
  3. Novinky.cz — 30 September 2026