‘There’s nothing quite like the rush when you get a call out’
MORE on-call firefighters are urgently required in the Staffordshire Moorlands.
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service is particularly interested in recruiting on-call firefighters for Ipstones and Longnor, but also has vacancies in Leek and Cheadle.
The jobs are open to anyone who lives or works within five minutes of a fire station and people interested are encouraged to drop in to meet the crews during their drill nights to find out more.
Leek based on-call firefighter John Baines has been with the service for 12 years. He said: “The best bit about being an on-call firefighter is the camaraderie and working together, no matter whether the situation has a positive or sad outcome, you’re in it together.”
John spent several hours tackling fires across the Moorlands during the summer of 2018. He spent so long using the service’s 4x4 he was given the nickname of the ‘Forest Uber.’
He added: “I was in Hanley when the Roaches fire started and could see the smoke from there, it was quite scary.
“I think a lot of people join as on-call firefighters because of the adrenaline rush you get when you get called out. There’s nothing quite like it.”
Kevin Mclintock runs recruitment of on-call firefighters in the north of the county. He said: “These people do exactly what our wholetime firefighters do but on an on-call basis. They devote their spare time, often alongside full time jobs, to serve their community.
“We are keen to hear from people who want to join us in a job like no other where they can play an integral role in keeping the communities where they live or work safe.
“Being a retained firefighter is a great way to give something back to the community at the same time as supplementing your income. On-call firefighters receive the same high level of training as their full time colleagues and attend fires and other incidents, such as water rescues and road traffic collisions. Enthusiasm and motivation are key qualities that are essential, as well as the ability to work as a team.”
Staffordshire’s Commissioner for Police, Fire and Rescue and Crime, has praised the sacrifices being made by on-call firefighters. Since taking over governance of Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Matthew Ellis has met with staff at 18 of the on-call stations across the county as well as meeting with whole-time and day crewed stations.
In a visit to Ipstones and Cheadle, Mr Ellis praised them for their commitment and dedication to their community – after seeing many of them on duty at the fires on the Roaches last summer.
He said: “They are utterly dedicated to protecting their local communities, and are a humbling reminder that community spirit and public duty are alive and well. I don’t think most people realise that these firefighters are true professionals, and yet have full-time jobs at the same time.
“It is a real sacrifice from their employers and families as their pager can go at any time of the day or night requiring them to drop everything and respond to emergencies.”
On-call firefighters provide emergency response cover from their home or work base, within five minutes of their local station. After their initial training they attend weekly drill nights to ensure they maintain their skills.
As well as responding to emergencies, on-call firefighters get involved in community fire safety initiatives in their local area, including safe and well and school visits.
Anyone interested in knowing more about becoming an on-call firefighter is asked to call in at the stations on drill night which are: Leek: Tuesday 7pm to 9pm. Cheadle: Tuesday 7pm to 9pm. Ipstones: Tuesday 7pm to 9pm. Longnor: Tuesday 7.30pm to 9.30pm.