Paper short abstract:

The purpose of the paper is to investigate how the crisis caused by the wildfires activated rural networks and mobilization of resources in local communities affected by the wildfires, and how this can be interpreted in terms of rural community resilience.

Paper long abstract:

In our project Mobilized villages: local community agency during the Swedish wildfires in 2018 and the process of re-orientation towards the future we’ve investigated local mobilization in small rural communities during the large and numerous wildfires in Swedish forests in 2018. The main contribution of this paper is that it brings forth empirical knowledge about the importance of timing, local networks and skills in disaster response in a rural context. Our project shows strong evidence of social cohesion, closely tied to place, but also important areas of conflict. A key factor for success in extinction of the fires were lack of prestige and close cooperation with people with local knowledge and networks. Emergent and autonomous groups, based in local networks, is of special importance, as they are central from a local perspective, yet not formally recognized as a resource – rather, if they are mentioned it is as a security risk – in evaluations and reports from authorities and formal rescue organizations. The purpose of the paper is to investigate how the crisis caused by the wildfires activated rural networks and mobilization of resources in local communities affected by the wildfires, and how this can be interpreted in terms of rural community resilience. Embedded in this lies the methodological question of what happens with established categories such as volunteers and professionals, formal and informal organization when we choose to take local communities as a starting point? Finally, we discuss the question whether the official response to the wildfires can be seen as consequences related to an urban norm and state withdrawal from rural Sweden in general and how this affect senses of trust, democracy and justice among inhabitants there.