Difficulties in recruiting and retaining part-time firefighters are a problem in several locations in Sweden, including in Bjurholm where you may be forced to stop smoke diving due to the shortage.
Two-thirds of the Swedish rescue service are part-time firefighters.
According to MSB, 54 percent of the locations in Sweden had problems with recruitment in 2021.
MSB mainly works to develop knowledge about the problem and investigate which measures work, but ultimately it is out in the towns that the work must be carried out.
Develops strategy
The localities that have problems with recruitment often make attempts to bring in new people, for example by visiting local employers and presenting themselves.
- The work must be done locally, they are the ones who can influence the local community.
We have a very hard time doing that.
But we are currently developing a national strategy to synchronize all activities, with the goal of improving the situation, says unit manager Anders Edstam.
In the video, Anders Edstam tells us what the local fire stations can work with to solve the problem.