Date: 15th October, 2018
Firefighters in Blandford and Shaftesbury are giving you the chance to ‘have a go’ at becoming an on-call firefighter at several events taking place over the next two weeks.
Crews from Shaftesbury Fire Station will be holding sessions from 6-9pm on the 18th and 25th October and Blandford Fire Station’s will be from 6-9pm on the 17th and 24th October.
Contracted hours can vary, but on-call personnel usually make themselves available for between 48 and 120 hours per week. Between them, each fire station team will provide cover for weekdays, evenings, nights and weekends.
On-call support officer Martin Hoole said: “The easiest way to see if being a firefighter is for you is to come along, have a chat with the crew and try your hand at different things. There will be opportunity to try on breathing apparatus, climb a ladder and do the national firefighter selection test for carrying equipment.”
He added: “On-call firefighters receive the same training and development as wholetime colleagues, and we can be called to all manner of emergencies, including fires, road traffic collisions, animal rescues and flooding. The pay does vary, depending on how much cover you give, but it is fantastically rewarding to be a part of your community and be in a position to help people.”
To be on-call, you will need to be able to respond to the fire station in around five minutes once your pager goes off. This can be from home or work, and employers can benefit from a firefighter’s training – such as first aid, manual handling, a greater understanding of health & safety in the workplace, and enhanced team spirit.
If you are interested in being an on-call firefighter or know anyone who may be interested but can’t attend this event, visit www.dwfire.org.uk/be-one-of-us for more information.
ENDS