OPERATIONAL SECURITY IN COUNTIES: A CASE STUDY OF ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION IN THE NATIONAL FIREFIGHTING AND RESCUE SYSTEM

<ns3:p>The objective of this article is to present the results of an analysis and evaluation of the operationalsecurity status in selected counties of the Mazovian Province (Węgrów, Sokołów, Ostrów andWyszków Counties) provided by units of the National Firefighting and Rescue System (NFRS)operating in these counties. The study was conducted in 2025 in the Mazovian Province. This studytests the hypothesis that the implementation of additional administrative and organizationalmeasures — particularly those involving the optimisation of NFRS unit locations and improvedresponse time coverage modelling — would significantly improve the territorial effectiveness ofoperational security in selected counties of the Mazovian Province. As part of the research, thepotential of NFRS entities operating in the counties was assessed, threats to the selected countieswere evaluated and relevant assumptions were adopted. The most vulnerable municipalities withinthe selected counties of the Mazovian Province were identified and simulations of operationalsecurity capabilities for these counties by NFRS units were carried out using Quantum GeographicInformation System (QGIS) software. The research hypothesis was validated by results of theconducted evaluation.</ns3:p>