Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has again flagged up the importance of on-call firefighters, after a house fire in Tisbury earlier today (23 September).
Crews from Shaftesbury, Wilton and Salisbury (two) attended the incident in Vicarage Road as the local Tisbury crew was not available.
The fire, which is now being investigated, caused severe damage to a domestic garage and also affected the adjacent house. The 999 call was received at 12.44pm and six breathing apparatus wearers, three hose reel jets and a main jet were used to extinguish the blaze, which was under control in under an hour.
Area Manager Andy Cole said: “While our firefighters in Tisbury do a great job for their community, there just aren’t enough of them to provide cover at all times of the day and night. As such, when this fire was called in earlier, the nearest crew to respond was from Shaftesbury.”
He added: “We are working hard to recruit new on-call firefighters across the Service area, and would urge anyone who lives or works near one of our fire stations to take a look at our website and consider applying to support their community.”
On-call firefighters receive the same training and development as wholetime colleagues, and they can be called to all manner of emergencies, including fires, road traffic collisions, animal rescues and flooding. 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.
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is committed to equality of opportunity and diversity in employment and welcomes applications from all sectors of the community. Applications from women and those from an ethnic minority are particularly welcome, as they are currently under-represented.
In order to become an on-call firefighter, you will need to live or work near your local fire station and be able to respond to that station once your pager goes off. Employers can benefit from a firefighter’s training – such as first aid, manual handling, a greater understanding of health & safety in the workplace, and enhanced team spirit.
If you are interested in becoming an on-call firefighter, please find out more at www.dwfire.org.uk/on-call-firefighters
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