2. The problem
An automatic fire alarm goes off at the
Market Hall, Lilla Tvärgatan 9.
It is 05.01 and the lights are switched on
at the central fire station in Allmänsta.
Andersson lifts the receiver at the fire
station garage and talks briefly with the
dispatcher.
‘We have received an automatic alarm
from the Market Hall. A security guard is
close by and he will meet up with you at the
location.’
One minute later a vehicle leaves the
garage.
‘Adam 1 from 101; 101 and 103 proceed
to the automatic alarm Market Hall, Lilla
Tvärgatan 9.’
The market hall is situated in the centre
of Allmänsta, only a couple of minutes drive
from the fire station. The central alarm unit
is located inside a door by the loading bay on
a side street and the vehicle proceeds there.^1
On arrival the vehicle is parked on the
square and Andersson and Johansson go with
the security guard to the central unit. After a
few minutes they come to the conclusion that
the affected section is in another building on
the opposite side of Lilla Tvärgatan,
Storgatan 68. Andersson, who now takes on
the role of incident commander,^2 proceeds
with the guard to the department store. As
they enter, they can smell smoke. Andersson
calls Johansson, who is still at the central
unit, on the radio.
Allmänsta is a municipality somewhere in
Sweden. There are two smaller communities
in the municipality, Närby and Fjärrby. The
municipal structure for providing rescue ser-
vices is based in the main town of Allmänsta
and comprises full and part time personnel,
(^1) A correct and relevant assessment
of the situation is important during
the whole of response operation, but
perhaps especially so during the initial
stages. Response plans, which may be
an important element of a situation
assessment, can provide response
personnel with necessary information
about the object while on their way to
the incident site and enable them to
form a picture of the incident, possible
response routes etc. Familiarity with
the object is highly beneficial for a re
-
sponse operation, irrespective of what
the object is. One should also remem-
ber that there is a difference between
damage and object.(^2) The question of who is the inci
dent commander is tied to the Civil -
Protection Act and to certain areas of
responsibility and authority that are
given here. An aspect that is equally if
not more important is responsibility
for the work environment and who has
the authority to lead the work.