Volunteer firefighters, social capital and social life in municipalities

Abstract

The article deals with the influence of volunteer firefighters on social life in Czech municipalities. Firefighters are relatively more represented in rural areas of South and West Bohemia and in parts of the Vysočina Region.

They are less represented in Moravia, Central and Northwestern Bohemia. The number of members has been rising in most regions.

Volunteer firefighters are active organizers of cultural and social events and in the smallest rural areas, they often act as main representatives of social life.

Keywords

• volunteer firefighters
• social capital
• social life
• Czechia
• rural areas