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Last week, NRK wrote about the fire department of the former Jølster municipality, which resigned following a new municipal decision on fire protection.
Now 12 of the 15 firefighters from the old municipality of Gaular follow. This means that Sunnfjord Township loses a total of 30 firefighters and several decades of experience and knowledge.
– It was not an easy decision, but we cannot work with these personnel as the new fire system does with us, says Kristian Aas Kyrkjebø.
There is a particular malaise associated with staffing during the day and poorly organized surveillance during holidays, such as Christmas and Easter. Also, they only have 2 hours a month to practice emergency procedures and services.
– For me, the cup overflowed when I understood that we were going to have another unguarded holiday in the Gaular area, says Geir Foss.
Tell them that with the new scheme they can experience that only one firefighter meets the alarm and in the worst case no one, and then help will be far away.
Protect the local community
They emphasize that they have no financial reason to be in the positions and that they are all volunteer firefighters with a 1.03 percent position.
They are all firefighters because they want to take care of the local community and ensure good training for the residents of the Gaular area.
They experience that they already have a minimum staffing and say that they had made the same decision if the old municipality of Gaular had opted for the reduction.
– We are disappointed in Sunnfjord Township and we have not met any of our demands, please tell them.
LONG TRAVEL TIME: All Gaular employees have land and good experience. The municipality will lose several decades of competition when they leave.
Photo: Ingeborg Kløve-Graue / NRK
One year of mapping
Both the Gaular fire brigade and Jølster have tried to inform the tenant in the municipality several times, but the experience has not been heard.
The new decision comes from the municipal merger between Førde, Jølster, Naustdal and Gaular.
A consulting firm is behind the report that was the basis for the decision.
In addition, several chief union delegates from various unions, fire chiefs and chief safety representatives from the municipality participated.
– It is not true that the firefighters were not able to participate in the decision, says Janne Fugle, union chief delegate.
She believes that dissatisfaction comes from cultural differences in the old municipalities and a different understanding of roles.
I think the preparation will be better
Municipal Director Ole John Østenstad in Sunnfjord Township believes the new fire scheme will lead to better preparedness in Sunnfjord Township.
He says that this situation is demanding and, indeed, somewhat surprising.
The municipal director says that they have had a close dialogue with the main union officials throughout the process, but that the management has not had the opportunity to speak with a quarter of the firefighters individually.
– That they do not feel seen I can understand it and I have to improve on that, says Østenstad.
How to play the lottery with the emergency services.
The fire brigade in Førde and Naustdal write in a letter to NRK that they have a strong understanding that their colleagues want to resign.
– Here, the management, the administration and the politicians have played the lottery with the emergency services in the municipality of Sunnfjord, they write.
They agree that the new fire system creates great uncertainty related to staffing and assistance in the event of an alarm.
The firefighting team in Gaular is about to stop when they see that the new fire system will not only go beyond their own safety, but also everyone who lives in the area.
– To go with that anxiety of being completely alone in demanding situations, I just can’t take it anymore, says firefighter Tommy Nyland.
– This is not enough for us or for the people of Gaular, they all say.
