YEOVIL NEWS: Open evening to recruit on-call firefighters

YEOVIL Fire Station is hosting an open evening later this month to provide an opportunity for members of the community to explore the potential to support the existing station crews by becoming on-call firefighters.

The event will be held at Yeovil Fire Station in Reckleford on Tuesday, June 24, at 7pm. People will have the opportunity to meet the crews, watch training sessions and find out just what being an on-call firefighter entails.

The Service is specifically looking for:

• People working in the Yeovil area that can be released by their employer to respond to the station during Monday to Friday.
• People who can give day cover during the week and live within five minutes response to the fire station.
• People with a full driving licence would be preferable.
• The Service can offer 84-hour contracts.

A Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service spokesman said: “We are looking for people in the Yeovil community to be on-call firefighters.

“No previous experience of fire-fighting is necessary for this role – the ideal prospective firefighter starts with a commitment to the community, a positive attitude and a good level of fitness.

“This is an opportunity for men and women who live and/or work within five minutes response time to the fire station to potentially save lives in fire, flood and road traffic emergencies.

“Being on-call means that you provide a level of cover whilst at work or at home and when you are needed your pager will alert you to attend the station.  People who can give cover during the day are particularly needed.”

On-Call firefighters come from a variety of backgrounds - they could be self-employed, full time parents, tradespeople, administrators, shopkeepers but they all share a common purpose to give something back to the community.

Would-be firefighters need to be aged over 18 and have a good level of fitness and strength, but sometimes people overestimate the levels required and this can deter them, particularly women, from applying.

The Service will give people advice and help in preparing for both the written and practical assessments. Equally living with a disability is not automatically a barrier to operational fire-fighting; it depends on the nature of the disability.  Once you are recruited full training is provided.

The application process is on line at the link below:
http://www.dsfire.gov.uk/workingforus/recruitment/?siteCategoryId=13&T1ID=47

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