On Call Firefighter Recruitment Campaign

Get the call – become a professional firefighter – that’s the message from your local fire and rescue service.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is working with the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) as part of a national campaign encouraging people to become on-call firefighters.

The “Need More” awareness week runs from 7th January 2019 and aims to highlight opportunities available in the fire service, while busting myths about what it takes to be a firefighter. The campaign 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.

An on-call firefighter is someone who responds to a range of fire and rescue service jobs; these range from emergency calls, working at open days, carrying out work with their local communities and acting as an ambassador for the fire service.

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. The on-call hours are based around people’s availability and other commitments.

To be an on-call firefighter, you must:

• Have a strong desire to support the local community.
• Be enthusiastic about working as part of a team.
• Have a reasonable level of personal fitness.
• Live or/and work within 4 minutes of your local on-call (retained) fire station.

On-call firefighters are an integral part of our service and community. We are keen to encourage anyone with the right skills to find out about what they can offer us – and in return, what we can offer you.

Terry McDermott, NFCC On-Call Lead and Chief Fire Officer for Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said:  “If being a firefighter is something that appeals to you, but you already have a career or other commitments, now is the chance for you to find out if you can still make it happen.  

On-call firefighters are crucial to the work of the Fire and Rescue service, and we want to make sure our fire services reflect all local communities. So, if you want to receive world class training, work as part of a fantastic team and help your local community, we need to hear from you. There’ s lots of flexibility to work around other commitments such as family, studying or work, but if you don’t get in touch you’ll never know.”

To find out more about becoming a firefighter and to get in touch with your local fire and rescue service on www.oncallfire.uk. The website also gives advice to employers and how having on-call firefighters within their business can bring advantages. These include health and safety and medical response training, as well as developing situational awareness, leadership skills and the ability to work under pressure.

The following fire stations in North Yorkshire have a retained (or volunteer) crew: 

Acomb, Bedale, Bentham, Boroughbridge, Colburn, Danby, Easingwold, Filey, Goathland, Grassington, Hawes, Helmsley, Huntington, Kirkbymoorside, Knaresborough, Leyburn, Lofthouse, Lythe, Malton, Masham, Northallerton, Pickering, Reeth, Ripon, Robin Hood’s Bay, Selby, Settle, Sherburn, Skipton, Stokesley, Summerbridge, Tadcaster, Thirsk. (N.B Goathland and Lofthouse are volunteer stations)

Please be aware that not all stations have vacancies at all times.