Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service is holding an open evening on Wednesday 8 December at Grange Fire Station in a bid to recruit more on-call firefighters to the team.
Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service is looking for men and women from all walks of life and all ages who can work as part of a team and are prepared to commit to the role. Qualifications aren’t necessary, applicants must be at least 18 when their contract starts and be physically and medically fit.
On-call or retained firefighters are ‘on call’ to respond to a range of emergencies. They can still have another job until the call comes, then they become a professional firefighter.
The event at Grange Fire Station begins at 4.30pm (ending at 8pm) on Wednesday 8 December, and members of the on-call team will be available to discuss the role, how to apply, and the benefits of being an on-call firefighter.
Cumbria’s Chief Fire Officer, John Beard, said:
“On-call firefighters play a crucial role in our communities and are called upon to attend the full range of incidents, from fires and floods, to road traffic collisions and chemical spills. I would urge people living and working in the local area where to come along to the open evening and find out more about becoming part of the Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service team.”
Cllr Janet Willis, Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet Member for Fire and Rescue, said:
"On-call Firefighters are an integral part of our service and community. We are keen to encourage anyone who thinks they may have the right skills to find out what they can offer - and in return, what we can offer you."
On-call Firefighters come from every walk of life, including homemakers, shopkeepers, builders, farmers, office workers and directors of companies, together with people who are not currently employed. Full training is provided on an ongoing basis, therefore previous experience is not needed.
An on-call Firefighter could be called out two or three times a week, for a few hours at a time but at some quieter fire stations they may only be called once or twice each month. The on-call hours are based around people’s availability and other commitments.
To be an On-call Firefighter, you must:
Cumbria currently has approx. 370 on call firefighters based all over the county.
For more information, visit cumbria.gov.uk/oncallfirefighters