On-call firefighter recruitment drive in Berkshire

The county's fire and rescue service is looking for retained firefighters who can provide emergency cover from home or work

Author: Jonathan RichardsPublished 22nd Aug 2023

Royal Berkshire fire and rescue service (RBFRS) is hoping to find new recruits to join its team of on-call firefighters.

There are around 65 retained firefighters across the county who are trained to provide emergency cover for their local fire station from home or work.

The RBFRS say they particularly need people who live and work near Maidenhead fire station and Lambourn to improve their emergency cover.

On-call (retained) firefighters are an essential part of Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service. Although these individuals are not based on fire stations, they usually live or work within 6-8 minutes of their local on-call fire station and are ready to respond to any emergency when required.

As part of the role, On-call firefighters receive an annual wage plus additional payments for attending drill nights, training and any incidents. On average, On-Call firefighters provide between 40 and 120 hours cover per week to help serve their local community. The most important attributes of an on-call firefighter are self-motivation, compassion, commitment and teamwork.

You can find out more about the recruitment process here