Recruitment drive to boost 'on-call' firefighters

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) is seeking to employ on-call firefighters who live minutes from a station.

The service wants potential recruits who can respond to emergencies on evenings, weekends and daytime around their day job.

The part-time roles involve an initial training course, carrying a pager and one night of training a week at the station.

Eleven stations in Kent and Medway are accepting applications until 11 August.

One on-call firefighter Hannah Songer says she fits her hours around her desk job after seeing the role advertised on social media.

She said: "I didn’t know too much about the role, so I went down to the station and had a chat with the crew, and it sounded like a role I’d enjoy."

In her two years at Tonbridge Station, she says she is happy to be making a difference.

Ms Songer said: “We attended someone who was suffering with chest pains, and it turned into a full cardiac arrest.

"We were there at the critical time and saved their life, so that stands out to me.”

The Kent fire stations which are recruiting are:

• Swanley
• Swanscombe
• Ash-cum-Ridley
• Borough Green
• Sevenoaks
• Westerham
• Edenbridge
• Tonbridge
• Paddock Wood
• Tunbridge Wells
• Southborough

On-call firefighters must be available for around 50 hours a week at pre-agreed times of day, and meet fitness requirements.

The service is also looking for recruits who can be in gear on a fire engine within five minutes of receiving a page.

KFRS area manager Nick Scott said: “If you want to be there for the people in your neighbourhood in times of need, this could be the fulfilling role you’re after.”

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