“Nobody is superman”: exploring stress and coping in Norwegian firefighters in rural areas

Purpose The study aims to gain a deeper understanding of stressors and stress management among Norwegian firefighters in rural areas. Design/methodology/approach The study employed an inductive approach with semi-structured interviews with 13 participants from fire and rescue services in Innlandet County, Norway, and were analyzed in line with thematic analysis. Findings Rural firefighters face stressors similar to urban firefighters, but with unique challenges such as personal connection to victims, extended response times, broader responsibility and work–life balance issues. This study presents a model identifying factors serving as a resource base and at each incident phase (before, during and after), and at individual, group and organizational levels that can be stressors or aids in stress management. Focusing on the individual level, the paper highlights the importance of a strong “Resource Base” for effective stress management, in addition to mental preparedness en route, on-site avoidance (professionalism and shielding) and post-incident approach coping (dealing with the aftermath and letting go). Research limitations/implications An inductive approach only, a narrow geographical focus on one Norwegian county and a male-only participant base may have limited broader insights, cross-country comparisons and gender-specific findings. Practical implications Emphasizing individual coping strategies and tailored training can enhance stress management and efficiency in high-stress situations, well-being and career longevity in rural firefighting. Originality/value Unique to this study is the rural context and the inclusion of Norwegian firefighters, in addition to the consideration of interconnected factors of stress and stress management.