Plea for more fire fighters (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Plea for more fire fighters

11:25am Monday 11th February 2008 in News By Peggy Clatworthy

MORE fire fighters are need for Tewkesbury fire station.

Cover from the station in Oldbury Road is provided by retained crews, who combine normal jobs, such as builders, window cleaners and teaching assistants with being qualified fire fighters.

They are on call from home or work 24 hours a day and respond to emergencies including fires, chemical spills, road traffic accidents and trapped animals.

They can train in a wide range of specialist skills, including boat rescue, breathing apparatus support and damage control and can be called upon to use these skills at major incidents across the county.

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman, Kevin Pottinger said: "We are looking for members of the community who are interested in joining the retained service, where they will be on call for a set number of hours each week."

He added that fire fighters do not have to be big butch men, as the recent recruitment of Michelle Hicks, Tewkesbury's first female crew member shows.

Retained fire fighters can earn between £300 and £600 a month, and have to be able to get to their local fire station within five minutes from home or work.

Anyone who would like to find out more is invited to a roadshow being held at Tewkesbury Fire Station on Tuesday February 25 from 7pm.

Would be fire fighters will be able to see what goes on and have a go at some of the tests they will have to take if they do decided to join.

Mr Pottinger will also be on available to talk to employers about the advantages and problems of allowing an employee to time off for fire service duties.