Firefighters in plea for part-timers

10:02pm Thursday 8th May 2008

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CRICKLADE firefighters say their current recruitment drive is a matter of life and death.

The retained station has only seven crew members and needs five more to serve its community effectively.

Watch manager Neil Vigor said the current shortage is a fatality waiting to happen.

He said: "If we don't have enough firefighters to crew our truck than another station will have to be called out to a fire meaning a longer wait for the victims - that can be the difference between a serious fire and a fatal one."

The Cricklade crew will be outside the town's leisure centre tomorrow from 9am to 1pm, handing out fliers and encouraging people to take an interest in the retained fire service.

Posters will be displayed in businesses and shops throughout the town and a banner will be up in the town centre.

Retained firefighters are important to Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, making up 60 per cent of all firefighters in Swindon and Wiltshire.

Out of a total of 25 fire stations, 19 are crewed only by retained firefighters, covering 830 square miles, attending more than 3,000 calls a year, or 40 per cent of all incidents.

For 43-year-old Neil, the retained fire service is more than just a job.

"I've been in this for 25 years now," he said. "It's about serving the community you love and a desire to protect those in it.

"As long as you live just five minutes from the station you can do that too."

The retained fire service is a part-time job and all recruits get the same training as full-time firefighters.

Recruits need to be at least 18 to apply and must live or work five minutes away from the Bath Road station.

"We are mechanics, construction workers, Ministry of Defence firefighters and students - we are all different ages but we are all fit and healthy," said Neil.

"That's all you have to be, we're not looking for superheroes, just someone who wants to serve their community like us.

"We need people to provide all levels of cover. You may only be able to help on weekdays, or in the evenings and weekends, and that's fine as what we need are more recruits available at more times."

Anyone that wants to find out more can visit the station recruitment evening on May 19.

The event starts at 7pm and will finish at 9pm.

Recruitment officer Tracy Scrivens will be on hand to answer any questions about the recruitment process, and visitors can meet the crew and watch them demonstrate their skills.

For more information about retained firefighting opportunities throughout Swindon and Wiltshire telephone 01380 731144 or visit www.wiltsfire.gov.uk.