In a press release, MSB today presents two government assignments that are of great importance for the continued development of the municipal rescue services' role within civil defence. One assignment involves describing how the rescue services need to be designed to handle the challenges a war on Swedish soil could entail. The other assignment concerns the activation of civil duty for personnel reinforcement of municipal rescue services.

Municipal rescue services are currently primarily configured to handle accidents in peacetime such as fires, traffic accidents, and drownings. During a war, significantly more simultaneous accidents will occur, many of which are considerably larger in scope and consequences than what rescue services are accustomed to handling in peacetime. This may include extensive fires in houses and industries, search and rescue operations in collapsed buildings, and handling unexploded ordnance. At present, municipal rescue services have limited experience, knowledge, and equipment to manage such operations.

Doubling of personnel needed during heightened preparedness

The ongoing war in Ukraine has clearly shown the need to protect personnel, equipment, and secure infrastructure and operations through backup power, fuel reserves, and spare parts.

– To be prepared for a situation with heightened preparedness and to handle the strains that an armed attack on Sweden could entail, we see that the current personnel number of approximately 16,000 full- and part-time employees in municipal rescue services needs to be doubled, says Henrik Larsson, head of the unit for rescue services during major accidents at MSB.

In addition to personnel reinforcement, there is also an overarching need for personal protective equipment and significant reinforcement of equipment such as detection equipment and lifting equipment that can be used in collapsed buildings.

Civil duty personnel are an important resource

The doubling of personnel volume is primarily intended to occur through a reintroduced civil duty. Initially, this will be through the direct enlistment of individuals with previously completed rescue service training who are not currently working within municipal rescue services. Based on those who already have competence through training or experience for tasks within rescue services, MSB estimates that between 2,000 and 3,000 people can be added to the municipalities' war organisations for rescue services within a few years. In the long term, supply will be ensured through conscription and selection for basic training in rescue services.

This is what the rescue services should achieve by 2033

MSB's assessment is that by 2033, municipal rescue services should have;
  • the ability to conduct search and rescue operations, handle unexploded ordnance, and detect and decontaminate for protection against chemical warfare agents and nuclear weapons,
  • preparedness planned in each municipality for a sustainability of at least three months,
  • reached a personnel volume for heightened preparedness of 32,000 women and men,
  • provided basic training and conducted refresher exercises for all personnel,
  • the ability to act independently at all command levels under disrupted conditions,
  • been reinforced with material resources and modern technology adapted to the demands of war.
Achieving effective and coordinated rescue operations during heightened preparedness and ultimately war also requires that the municipal rescue services, together with directly affected actors, have been given the opportunity for planning, training, and exercises.

Important to identify needs throughout society

Civil defence needs to be strengthened in all parts of society. MSB has submitted documentation to the government on the needs we see and what it may cost.

Society's actors must themselves identify how their operations need to be planned. MSB offers help and guidance to public actors to work with their war organisation and war placement of personnel. Shortly, the same will be directed towards the business sector and civil society.

– If the proposals in these two assignment reports are given the opportunity to be implemented, it is a large and important step taken in the ongoing build-up of Sweden's civil defence and a direct contribution to a stronger total defence, says Henrik Larsson at MSB.