The Stages of Development of the Hungarian Fire Service, with Particular Emphasis on the Process by Which Preventive Fire Protection Became a Distinct Field of Expertise

Abstract

The evolution of fire regulation closely mirrors the history of socio-economic formations, construction technology and industrial production. This study reviews the historical development of fire regulation in Hungary, from the early, local initiatives of the St Stephen era to the modern, centralised disaster management structure. The study is based on a systematic analysis of the relevant Hungarian literature and the legal framework. The article focuses in particular on the emergence of preventive fire protection as a distinct field of engineering and regulatory expertise, illustrating the shift from reactive fire suppression to a proactive, risk-proportionate science. The author analyses the most important legislative milestones chronologically, breaking down the development of the law into six distinct periods. This historical overview periodises the law using dogmatic and institutional-historical criteria. Fundamental changes in the organisational structure and legal framework of the Hungarian fire service demarcated these periods. By tracing the development of fire regulation over several centuries, in both professional practice and institutional history, this study highlights the contemporary challenges facing preventive fire safety and recommends proactive, risk-based engineering solutions for the future.