New emergency response capability taking shape in Boden

As the industrial investment at Boden Industrial Park expands, a new emergency response capability is also being developed. Much of this work is carried out together with the municipal rescue services, which were involved in the planning from an early stage.

For Fire Chief Magnus Nilsson, the task is about building an organization capable of handling the risks associated with an establishment of this scale. It involves equipment, training, and exercises—but also creating a way of working where municipal rescue services and the industrial organization can operate together.

“We need to train and operate together. That means being able to communicate and act jointly in the event of an incident,” he says.

The background is that operations classified as hazardous activities are subject to specific requirements. This means that the company must maintain or finance preparedness to manage risks within its operations, while responsibility for the actual emergency response remains with the municipality.

This makes the development of Stegra’s emergency response unit not only a matter for the company, but also an important part of the Municipality of Boden’s work on safety, security, and preparedness in a growing community.

Magnus Nilsson, Fire Chief, Municipality of Boden. Photo: Markus Jornevald

Emergency response capability built step by step

The work is currently in a phase where several elements are progressing in parallel. Safety analyses are being developed, the organization is taking shape, and ongoing dialogue with the County Administrative Board is clarifying applicable requirements.

“We are reviewing the safety report together with the County Administrative Board to assess the level of capability required,” says Magnus Nilsson.

At the same time, an industrial fire and rescue service is being established at Stegra to complement the municipal rescue services. A smaller unit is already in place, and recruitment, training, and exercises are ongoing.

For Stegra, this is a necessary part of being able to operate.

“We will be running a large, complex industrial facility around the clock, and the law requires us to prevent and limit the consequences of accidents during operations. That is why we are now building our own preparedness and emergency response organization, where this collaboration is, of course, extremely important,” says Helena Klasson, Fire Chief at Stegra in Boden.

Magnus Nilsson adds:

“Stegra’s unit will likely be first on site in the event of an incident and able to initiate the response. Then we reinforce with resources from the municipal rescue services,” he says.

Both Stegra and the municipality also see that the investment will have an impact beyond the industrial area.

“A strengthened overall capability in society is beneficial, not least for our staff, who live their lives in Boden outside of work. In addition, some of our employees may in the future also serve as part-time firefighters for the Municipality of Boden alongside their work at Stegra,” says Helena Klasson.

Through a dedicated rescue service agreement, the units will be able to work together, use the same communication systems, and share knowledge of the facility.

New risks require new expertise

The growing industry is already visible in the work of the rescue services, with more people on the move and increased traffic.

“We are seeing more traffic accidents, more automatic fire alarms, and more incidents linked to workplaces. It is a natural consequence of increased activity in the area,” says Magnus Nilsson.

At the same time, new demands are being placed on skills and equipment—for example, to handle larger building volumes, greater heights, and new types of materials.

“We need to develop our methods and tactics. This is a type of operation we have not previously had in Boden.”

Strengthening the municipality’s overall emergency response capability

The development means more work—but also clear advantages.

“We are improving. By training for more complex situations, we strengthen our capability across the entire municipality, even for smaller incidents,” says Magnus Nilsson.

The industrial rescue service being built up may also become a resource beyond the industrial area in the long term. The ambition is for the unit to be able to respond to incidents in the surrounding area while awaiting the arrival of municipal rescue services.

The investment in Stegra represents not only a new industry, but a broader societal transformation in which the rescue services are also evolving.

“We are building a capability we have not had before. It is complex and challenging, but also an opportunity to develop our operations for the future,” says Magnus Nilsson.