Exploring the Relationship Between Rescue Service Response Times, Citizen Satisfaction and Ownership of Fire Safety Equipment in Sweden

ABSTRACT This study investigates how rescue service response times and staffing solutions relate to both citizen satisfaction with rescue services and the adoption of individual fire safety measures in Sweden. Data were drawn from Statistics Sweden's satisfaction index, rescue service response times from KOLADA, and survey data from the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency on ownership of functional smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. Previous research has emphasised trust and confidence as important aspects of risk management, where satisfaction reflects confidence in governance and public services. In Sweden, confidence in public actors is high, yet individuals are increasingly expected to take responsibility for their own safety. Using Statistics Sweden's satisfaction index to measure satisfaction with rescue service, regression analysis controlled for sociodemographic variables, followed by moderation analysis comparing municipalities with full‐time or part‐time staffed rescue services. Part‐time rescue services have, on average, slower response times than full‐time services. Survey data on functional smoke detectors and fire extinguisher ownership were used to explore the probability distribution of owning fire safety equipment in relation to the staffing solutions of rescue services. Findings show that longer responses decrease satisfaction in municipalities with full‐time staffed rescue services, while response times do not influence satisfaction in municipalities with part‐time rescue services, suggesting that expectations differ from those in municipalities with full‐time rescue services. However, municipalities with part‐time rescue services display higher ownership of fire safety equipment, suggesting compensatory behaviour for slower response times. The study highlights the need for further research on the relationship between satisfaction and responsibility for fire safety.