Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

Cornwall at 02/02/2004 15:11

Are you a single parent who would like to help their community in some way but didn’t think you could because you have other responsibilities?

Well now you can. Cornwall County Fire Brigade will be providing crèche facilities on some fire stations and are recruiting retained (part–time) firefighters in various towns and villages across the County.

The Brigade is the first in the South West region to trial this initiative, and they hope that it will assist their urgent need for retained firefighters. The crèche facilities will be trialled at Helston, Newquay, Perranporth and Redruth, although there is scope to move it to areas where there is a need.

Retained firefighters can be men or women from all walks of life and ethnic backgrounds, who want to provide an extra service for their community.
The Brigade provides firefighters with training, a free uniform and personal protective equipment, and they will also get paid.

“Fire Brigades across the country are finding it more and more difficult to recruit retained firefighters. In Cornwall we try to encourage anyone to think about becoming a potential recruit, but perhaps single parents felt they did not have that choice”
said Deputy Chief Fire Officer Mark Yates
He cont: “This initiative will not solve all our recruitment problems but it will at least give single parents with child minding problems the opportunity to serve their communities. On a regular basis a retained firefighter will be helping people in distress, assisting the community, recognising health and safety issues at work, working in a team and taking part in a personal development programme that includes exercise and practice drills”

The applicants need to provide the brigade with a commitment to attend emergency incidents as and when required. They will need to be physically fit, at least 18 years of age, have good eyesight and very importantly, live and/or work within four minutes from their local fire station.

Stations that need new recruits are Bodmin, Bude, Callington, Camborne, Delabole, Fowey, Helston, Liskeard, Looe, Mevagissey, Mullion, Newquay, Padstow, Perranporth, Saltash, Polruan, Redruth, St Ives, St Mawes and Torpoint.

Please call the recruitment line on 01872 323758 (answerphone) for an application pack.