Date: 26th May, 2022
After 40 years serving the community of Lyme Regis, firefighter Pete Sartin of Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has hung up his tunic for the final time. On Monday 23 May, Pete attended his final drill night at Lyme Regis fire station and celebrated with his colleagues at his penultimate training session.
Pete joined the then Dorset Fire Brigade as an on-call firefighter in 1982 and has been a serving firefighter and emergency response driver for the station. As a driving instructor and HGV driver for a local company, he has juggled his primary employment with fire calls and training.
Pete has provided vital firefighter cover for his community and responded to medical emergencies as a co-responder since the scheme began in 2003, until the beginning of 2020.
Pete said: “I have really enjoyed my time as an on-call firefighter and though I am looking forward to retirement, I will be sad to say goodbye to the team at Lyme Regis. I have attended some memorable incidents over the years, but my biggest takeaway from my time in the fire service will be working with the most fantastic teams of people possible.”
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Andy Cole said: “Remaining in any role for 40 years is an impressive commitment, but on-call firefighters and their families make a huge commitment to their communities. Call outs can mean missing meals, family occasions and other events. I want to say thank you to Pete and his family, on behalf of the residents of Lyme Regis, and across our wider Service area, for his dedication to keeping them safe. Everyone at Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service wishes Pete a long and happy retirement – without the sound of a pager!”
If you would like to find out more about becoming a paid on-call firefighter, we are currently recruiting at stations across the Service. To find out more about the role and to apply, visit our website www.dwfire.org.uk/on-call-firefighters or, for stations in West Dorset, contact Station Manager Dan Cull directly on [email protected]