Emergency call for part-time firefighters in Ramsbury

Wiltshire Fire and Rescue has called out for people living and working in Ramsbury to become on-call firefighters.

The crew in Ramsbury needs more people to provide fire cover for the town and surrounding villages. On-call firefighters make themselves available to respond to a pager when a 999 call is made, and cover is needed at all times.

Contracted hours can vary, but on-call personnel usually make themselves available for between 48 and 120 hours per week. Between them, each fire station team will provide cover for weekdays, evenings, nights and weekends.

Anyone interested in finding out more can visit the fire station in High Street on Wednesday, October 7 or Wednesday, October 14 between 7pm and 9pm for have-a-go sessions.

The fire station will also throw open its doors between 10am and 4pm on Saturday, October 10.

Watch manager Chris Martin said: “To be on-call, you need to be able to respond to the fire station in around five minutes once your pager goes off, and this can be from home or work.

“Our crews can be called to all sorts of emergencies, including fires, road traffic collisions, animal rescues and flooding.”

He added: “On-call firefighters receive the same training and development as wholetime colleagues, and employers can benefit from those skills, which include first aid, manual handling, a greater understanding of health & safety in the workplace, and enhanced team spirit.

“The pay does vary, depending on how much cover you give, but it is fantastically rewarding to be a part of your community and to be in a position to help people.”

To be on-call, part-time firefighters need to be able to respond to the fire station in around five minutes once their pager goes off.

For more details, log on to www.wiltsfire.gov.uk/workingforus