The number of people killed in fires in 2023 was the highest since 2017.
In Halland, they have now launched a new app where volunteers can sign up to help in case of fires.
– It’s about rescuing people as safely as possible, says Jörgen Ahlgren, volunteer responder.
On weekdays, Jörgen Ahlgren is a referee consultant at Halland’s Football Association. But he is also a so-called FIP, or voluntary action person.
It is private individuals who rush out in the event of a fire in the immediate area. He has helped at several fires and is now trying to recruit his friends to download the new Delta app.
– There are mixed reactions. Some may think it’s scary to get to a fire first, but the little you can do you do and if you can’t do anything, you simply give up, says Jörgen Ahlgren.
Hundreds will become thousands
The system is reminiscent of what exists for cardiac arrest, where private individuals are alerted via an app of cardiac arrest in their vicinity and can help people by performing CPR. Delta works basically the same way, but for fire alarms.
The volunteers should not put themselves at risk – but only do what they themselves feel comfortable with. The rule of thumb is to act as you would have done if there was a fire at home.
The West Rescue Service has been working with volunteers for some time, but with the new app they hope to reach even more. Already in the first week after launch, the number of volunteers had doubled.
– Where we worked with volunteer emergency responders, they put out fires and took care of people. With Delta, we want a lot of people to participate, if instead of a few hundred there are thousands distributed over our geographical area, we will see a huge difference, says Jens Christiansson, Chief of Staff of the West Rescue Service.
Can cut the waiting time in half
The number of fire deaths has varied in recent years, but 2023 is the highest since 2017 and the first time since then that a hundred people died as a result of fire.
Time is of the essence when there is a fire, and with volunteer responders, the rescue service hopes that extinguishing work can begin much faster.
– On average, it takes ten minutes before we are on site and a lot can happen during that time. If you can break the course of the injury already after five minutes, a great deal has been won, says Jens Christiansson.