Press Release from Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service

Your fire service needs you!

Whether you’re a factory worker, a company director or a stay-at-home parent, if you have free time on your hands Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service needs you.

The service is on the look-out for new retained firefighters to join its ranks.
Retained firefighters make up the backbone of the county fire service with more than 80% of cover provided by them.

The unsung heroes are local people whose normal jobs or roles may be as diverse as factory workers, joiners, builders, plumbers, window cleaners, company directors, mums and dads.

But they double as qualified firefighters and help save lives by attending a wide variety of emergency incidents including fighting fires, chemical spills, road traffic accidents and rescue of animals.

Retained duty fire fighters are “on call” from home or work rather than on duty at a station and retained stations respond to emergencies 24 hours a day.

Retained personnel in Gloucestershire are also trained in other specialist skills such as cliff and water rescue, breathing apparatus support, damage control and can be called upon to provide these skills at major incidents anywhere in the county.

Kevin Pottinger Group Manager for Retained Duty Stations in Gloucestershire said: “We are looking for members of the community who are interested in joining the service on the retained duty system where firefighters are on call for set number of hours each week.

“Joining Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service as a retained duty fire fighter is a very rewarding and worthwhile opportunity.

“You will be part of a professional, well trained team working with the most up-to-date equipment, and working together to protect and educate the community from fire and other emergencies.

“Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service couldn’t operate without the dedication and skill of the retained firefighters.”

People interested must be able to reach their local fire station within five minutes of receiving a call from work and home.

Depending on the station staff are working from and the number of incidents staff attend, monthly pay could be between £300 to £600 plus.

Roadshows for anyone interested are being planned by GFRS at the following fire stations, Newent, February 12; Painswick, February 13; Wotton under Edge, February 18; Nailsworth, February 20; Tewkesbury, February 25; Stow on the Wold, February 27; Tetbury, March 6.

Contact:
Issued by Lisa Bonnell
Gloucestershire County Council Media Team, 01452 42522
lisa.bonnell@gloucestershire.gov.uk

ENDS

28th January 2008

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