County Durham and Darlington Fire & Rescue Service have begun a recruitment drive. Retained or part-time firefighters are currently needed in Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor.
Steve Cummings, district manager said: “Recruit is an ongoing issue, as people leave the area as personal circumstances change. Most people work during the day, so finding daytime cover can be especially difficult. It is crucial for the area that we have retained firefighters who live close to the station. We hope to attract people from all walks of life, who may not have considered taking up this important role in the past, to apply and go through the training.”
Retained firefighters must: Be over 18-years-old; Have good all-round fitness levels; Live within five minutes of the station;
Be flexible about when they can work; and be able to attend a weekly drill night.
Retained firefighters are paid an annual fee of between £2,158 and £2,877 based on being available the standard 120 hours per week.
They also receive an hourly rate for time spent at an incident or in training, as well as a disturbance payment per call out.
Aside from the financial rewards, current retained staff speak of the job in terms of putting something back into the community, carrying out a very worthwhile role, enjoying being part of a team, being motivated to stay fit and healthy and benefitting from first-class training.
Andrew Wells a retained crew manager in Sedgefield, said: “None of us has to do this; we are here because we want to be. Because of my working hours I have spare time during the day and I thought that training to become a retained firefighter would be a very worthwhile thing to do.”
For more information or to arrange to join in a drill session at Spennymoor or Newton Aycliffe Fire Stations please call:
Newton Aycliffe Fire Station – 01325 312531
Alternatively, email district manager Steve Cummings – scummings@ddfire.gov.uk Or visit the service website www.ddfire.gov.uk/can-you-be-retained-firefighter