On-call firefighters sought in Staffordshire

As part of a national recruitment drive, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is looking to find on-call firefighter.

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) is leading the ‘Need More’ on-call firefighter awareness week, running from Monday January 7 to Sunday January 13 2019. The initiative aims to highlight opportunities available in the fire service, while busting myths about what it takes to be a firefighter.

The campaign is an appeal to those who want more opportunity to connect with their community and is supported by a national website – www.oncallfire.uk – which encourages people to get in touch with their local fire service, in January or anytime throughout the year.

James Stevenson is an on-call firefighter in Tutbury and joined the Service in 2015. He said: “Both my Grandad and Dad were firefighters, so I have always had a interest in the job, I have always wanted to help others in my local community.

“I’d tell anyone thinking of joining; just do it. If you want to gain a sense of

belonging and want to give back to your local community or the surrounding areas there is nothing better than being an on-call firefighter. You can still go out around the village carry on with your day to day activities or anything like that as long as you are five minutes away from your station to be able to respond, just be prepared to leave what you are doing at the time of the call, but it’s the best job in the world.

“The work that you carry out as an on call firefighter isn’t always just responding to incidents, there is more to the job than that. Community engagement, working within the community visiting people form all different walks of life, you are always learning. Hearing stores of peoples lives really gives you a good feeling.”

SFRS has 33 fire stations across the county, including 23 that are staffed by on-call firefighters who live or work within five minutes of their local fire station, responding to emergencies when needed. These dedicated individuals give several hours a week, and during these times stop whatever they are doing to go the aid of their community.

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Kim Harrison runs recruitment of on-call firefighters in the east of the county, she said: “These people do exactly what our wholetime firefighters do but on an on-call basis. They devote their spare time, often alongside full time jobs, to serve their community.

“We are keen to hear from people who want to join us in a job like no other where they can play an integral role in keeping the communities where they live or work safe.

“Being a retained firefighter is a great way to give something back to the community at the same time as supplementing your income. On-call firefighters receive the same high level of training as their full time colleagues and attend fires and other incidents, such as water rescues and road traffic collisions. Enthusiasm and motivation are key qualities that are essential, as well as the ability to work as part of a team.”

Staffordshire’s Commissioner for Police, Fire and Rescue and Crime, Matthew Ellis said: “I’ve spent the last few months visiting more than 20 fire stations throughout Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent to find out about their issues impacting on the Service.

“Following feedback, one of the key objectives must be to increase the number of on-call firefighters which are currently below where they should be. My deputy Sue Arnold will take this work forward with Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service. This is a wonderful opportunity to join the Service and make a difference across the county.”

The Service is particularly interested in recruiting on-call firefighters for Burton, Abbots Bromley, Lichfield, Barton-Under-Needwood, Chase Terrace and Tamworth Mercia. If you live or work within five miles of one of your local fire stations feel free to drop in on the station during their drill nights.

For more information contact Kim Harrison 01785898913, visit https://oncallfire.uk/treadmill/ or stop by your local station.