Rye Fire Station is throwing open the doors to potential applicants, who will be able to find out more about becoming a retained firefighter by talking to crews as well as representatives from the service.
This event takes place on Wednesday 18 April from 6pm to 8:30pm.
During the event, there will be application packs available and an opportunity to try out practical assessments such as ladder climbing, dummy drags and working within confined space restrictions. The event is an ideal opportunity to meet retained firefighters who will provide valuable insight in to the role and answer any questions.
Retained Duty System (RDS) firefighters are an integral part of the county’s fire cover and enable us to crew more fire engines in some of the more rural and remote areas. Applicants have to work or live five minutes from a retained station so they can respond quickly if there is an emergency. They do this alongside their day jobs or raising a family.
Leo Cacciatore, Support officer for Rother said: “Being an on-call firefighter is a rewarding job, where you get to learn new skills and become part of a valued team. Not only do we attend various types of emergencies such as fires and road traffic incidents, we also support and host local events, visit schools, local groups and visit people in their homes to provide safety advice and fit smoke alarms. To carry out this role, you will be fully trained and given the skills to do an amazing job and be part of the community. So if you live or work in our local area and you can provide a commitment and want to join our team, please come along to meet us.”
Julie King, Borough Commander- Hastings said: “The role of the retained duty firefighter is vital in maintaining our ability to provide adequate cover across East Sussex. The team of RDS firefighters are made up by fully trained staff who respond when there is an emergency and offer such a valuable part of our Service. If you think you may be interested in being trained to be part of this team and would like to help out your local community then this role could be just for you!”
More information about being a retained firefighter can be found at: www.esfrs.org/rds
Source: Rye Fire Station
Image: East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service