- We hope to contribute to increasing competence and thus also security among people who live and have activities in the countryside, says Håkan Johansson, initiator / LRF.

Farmers and residents north and east of Sala completed their study circles in the winter of 2018-2019. About forty people in two groups then participated.

Important collaboration with the rescue service

This has been done in close dialogue, for example with the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency and in collaboration with the rescue service.

The farms now have knowledge and equipment that allows the rescue service, for example, to hand over the post-extinguishing work at an earlier stage to the landowners in the event of a forest fire, and then instead be able to concentrate their resources where the most urgent efforts are needed.

The preparedness in the area also means, among other things, that there is a network that meets, an updated alarm list for different scenarios and a very close and appreciated collaboration with the local rescue service Sala-Heby. Photo: Jenny Berggren / SVT

"Interest is where it has already burned"

Together with LRF riks and Studieförbundet vokenskolan, the material from the circles in Sala has now been compiled so that it can be spread across the country. The local department Norrby in Sala, which recently received the award this year's local department for its initiative, has already been involved and started several.

However, the interest in the material looks different across the country, says Per Pettersson, who is chairman of the LRF region Mälardalen.

- In areas where it has already burned, of course the commitment is much greater than where it has not yet burned, he says.