Rosengård firefighters call it quits
After months of suffering through thrown rocks and threats directed at his squadron during numerous calls to the Rosengård neighbourhood in Malmö, local fire chief Henrik Persson said on Tuesday he is stepping down from his post.
“I’m not getting any support from our top management. They don’t listen to our requests for a secure working environment,” Persson told the Sydsvenskan newspaper.
Persson, who also sits in on the board of Sweden’s national firefighters’ union, said he will abandon his leadership role at the Jägersro fire station and instead continue work as a rank-and-file firefighter.
Three other firefighters, including another squadron leader from the Jägersro fire station, also said on Tuesday they were quitting in hopes of relocating to other stations, the Dagens Nyheter (DN) newspaper reports.
Firefighters and police officers have long been subject to thrown rocks and threats on calls to the predominantly immigrant neighbourhood, with fire fighters working to introduce measures to make their jobs safer.
But their efforts have been for naught, according to Persson, who feels that he can no longer guarantee the safety of his colleagues.
“At a recent meeting a police officer said we need to be ready to have Molotov cocktails thrown at us,” he said.
Persson is also upset that the local emergency services authority won’t authorize funds to pay for two additional firefighters to be based at the station, which currently has seven firefighters.
On Monday night, yet another small fire broke out in a rubbish collection area located in the Rosengård neighbourhood.
Comments
See Also
“I’m not getting any support from our top management. They don’t listen to our requests for a secure working environment,” Persson told the Sydsvenskan newspaper.
Persson, who also sits in on the board of Sweden’s national firefighters’ union, said he will abandon his leadership role at the Jägersro fire station and instead continue work as a rank-and-file firefighter.
Three other firefighters, including another squadron leader from the Jägersro fire station, also said on Tuesday they were quitting in hopes of relocating to other stations, the Dagens Nyheter (DN) newspaper reports.
Firefighters and police officers have long been subject to thrown rocks and threats on calls to the predominantly immigrant neighbourhood, with fire fighters working to introduce measures to make their jobs safer.
But their efforts have been for naught, according to Persson, who feels that he can no longer guarantee the safety of his colleagues.
“At a recent meeting a police officer said we need to be ready to have Molotov cocktails thrown at us,” he said.
Persson is also upset that the local emergency services authority won’t authorize funds to pay for two additional firefighters to be based at the station, which currently has seven firefighters.
On Monday night, yet another small fire broke out in a rubbish collection area located in the Rosengård neighbourhood.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.