Plea for volunteers to join retained fire crews
A FRESH appeal has been made for new volunteers to join the ranks of West Norfolk's retained firefighters.
The service currently has vacancies across the region and needs both men and women to sign up and help a dedicated team which is ready to face any emergency situation.
Rigil Kent, a full-time firefighter who is based in Lynn but also retained in Hunstanton, told the Lynn News: “We have got vacancies throughout the western area.
“There are places available which we are struggling to fill, but I do not know why. It might be that people do not have the time, or it might be that companies will not let employees leave their jobs to ride fire engines.”
Norfolk Fire Service sees the retained station as an important part of the local community.
When retained firefighters are called to attend emergencies such as fires, floods, road accidents or other incidents, they could be saving the lives of their friends or neighbours.
Mr Kent said: “We do the same stuff as full-time firefighters. Going out on calls for fires, road accidents or cylinder incidents, you name it we do it.
“The rewards are fairly obvious. You are helping people in the most dire of situations.
“Those people, 99.9 per cent of the time, are pleased to see you, regardless of being full-time or retained as they are in a situation where things could not get any worse.
“You also get to mix with like-minded people and it really is good fun.”
Retained firefighters are required to attend a weekly drill night and will be on call either 24 hours a day, or fewer hours by prior arrangement.
They are also paid an annual retaining fee which ranges from 1,939 to 2,585, while hourly rates of pay are also made.
Prospective firefighters must be over the age of 18, be mentally and physically fit and pass dictation, numeracy, acrophobia and claustrophobia tests.
For more information on joining the service visit www.norfolkfireservice. gov.uk or call the watch manager at Lynn Fire Station on 01553 775163.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North
