Another contributing reason why it has become increasingly difficult to recruit part-time firefighters is that there have been large employers in one locality, which has meant that many have lived and worked in the same place and therefore been able to maintain on-call operations.
This was the case, for example, in Lidhult in Ljungby municipality in Småland.
Then the employer moved to Ljungby.
- But they have found clever solutions, says Magnus Olofsson at the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, MSB.
There are now part-time firefighters who also work as landlords for the municipal housing company, in the street and park operations and as caretakers at the school.
Recruitment problems require an active municipality
The Public Works Committee's acting chairman in Skellefteå, Peter Stensmar (S), who himself lives in Jörn 60 km from Skellefteå, states that it is tough and it is becoming increasingly difficult to engage people.
- We need to be active and try to create conditions for this to work because we really need our stationed corps, a fire station in the city center is not enough.
Due to long distances in the municipality, Skellefteå has a total of nine rescue corps and 1 fire brigade.
In the clip above, Peter Stensmar answers how he views combination services and that the municipality should take greater responsibility.