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What does being a Community Firefighter involve?

Firefighter attending incident
The main purpose of the job is to save life, reduce risk, provide humanitarian services and protect the environment in the most competent and effective manner.
 
Download the job description and person specification at the bottom of this page to discover the main duties and responsibilities of a Retained Community Firefighter or read one of our staff profiles.
 
As a firefighter you will be called upon to tackle a wide range of emergency situations where your problem solving skills and initiative will be vital to resolve incidents quickly and calmly.
 
Incidents vary from tackling fires and rescuing people from burning buildings to dealing with chemical spillages and road traffic collisions.
 
A sensitive approach is required when dealing with members of the public who may be distressed and confused.

Our Firefighters also work closely with the community to increase the level of awareness and therefore prevent incidents from occurring. This may involve carrying out Home Risk Fire Assessments, fitting smoke alarms in people’s homes or visiting schools to deliver talks to children as part of our Schools Education Programme.

Could You Fit a Firefighters Boots?
The list below gives you some idea of the attributes you need to be a firefighter.
 
Are you;
 
  • Over 18 (you can apply at 17.5 years)
  • Of good vision (with or without spectacles)
  • Physically fit
  • Resilient and flexible
 
Being a firefighter is challenging and can involve a number of situations or scenarios not commonly found in other jobs. You should consider if you are prepared to;
 
  • Work at height
  • Work in enclosed spaces
  • Work outdoors
  • Get wet during your work
  • Work in situations where you may see seriously injured casualties or fatalities
  • Work with a diverse range of people e.g. different ages, ethnic backgrounds, etc.
  • Get hot/cold whilst working
  • Carry heavy equipment
  • Work unsociable hours
 
Retained firefighters are also required to undergo an Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check in light of the role of the Firefighter working within the community.
 
As front line staff, operational firefighters will also be expected to promote the professional image of the Service within the community.

Firefighter fitting a smoke alarm at a citizens house
Training and Development
As a firefighter you will be expected to undertake a training programme by attending lectures, exercises, practical training sessions and other forms of training to maintain competency in the role.

Retained Firefighter Person Specification
Retained Firefighter Person Specification - [19 KB] Person specification detailing the requirments and assessment techniques used for the recruitment of retained firefighters.
Retained Firefighter Job Description
Retained Firefighter Job Description - [36 KB] Job description detailing the role, duties and responsibilities of a retained firefighter.