Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 02/08/2007 18:00

Liskeard Fire Station is currently recruiting for retained firefighters.

Anyone who is interested should come to the station for an open evening;
Station Officer Pete Robinson said: “We are holding an open evening at 6pm on Thursday 2 August at Liskeard Fire Station. Men and women who want to know more about being a retained firefighter are invited to come along”

To be a retained firefighter you need to be physically fit. You should also be at least 18 years old and live and / or work close to the fire station.

Retained firefighters are paid volunteers who do the same job as full-time firefighters. The difference is that they are not based on a fire station waiting for an alarm, they are on standby waiting to be called out.

They may be at home, working for themselves or for a company that is committed to helping the community. On average they may be called out two or three times a week for a couple of hours. Employers will benefit from having employees who are professionally trained to deal with emergencies and provide first aid”

Retained firefighters, like their full-time colleagues, are trained to deal with a wide range of situations and incidents. These include fires, road traffic accidents, dealing with hazardous materials and floods, and protecting the community through fire safety work.

Other training includes Large Goods Vehicle Driving (LGV), Emergency Fire Appliance Driving (EFADS) and First Aid training.
Retained firefighters are paid a basic annual payment (a retainer) and fees for emergency response, fees for training sessions and for duties like equipment maintenance.

Pete added: ““At the open evening you will be able to try out some of the physical fitness and practical tests that all potential recruits must undertake. For more information please contact the station or Eastern Divisional Headquarters on 01208 72312”