Recruitment Opens for Retained Firefighters in Ayrshire
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is looking for new retained firefighters to help protect communities throughout Ayrshire.
The latest phase of the Retained Duty System (RDS) recruitment campaign opened today (Thursday 13 August) and applicants have three weeks to express and interest in joining the service as a part-time firefighter.
There are currently vacancies at community fire stations in Ardrossan, Colmonell, Cumnock, Dalry, Dreghorn, Kilbirnie, Mauchline, Maybole, Millport, Muirkirk, Newmilns, Skelmorlie, Stewarton and Troon.
Area Manager Jim Scott is the SFRS local senior officer for East, North and South Ayrshire. He said: “RDS firefighters are called upon to attend the same wide range of emergency service as their whole-time colleagues.
“The men and women who serve in this vital role respond to fires, floods, road traffic collisions, chemical spills and many more incidents where people are in danger.
“They can also be called upon to work with whole time firelighters to promote fire safety messages, giving fire safety advice to schools and other organisations as well as carrying out free home fire risk assessments within their communities.”
RDS firefighters come from diverse backgrounds and bring a variety of experiences to the role. A range of skills are required including being a team player, having excellent communication skills and displaying attention to detail.
SFRS is encouraging men and women to apply in order to help protect the communities in which they live and work.
Area Manager Scott added: “It’s a very rewarding job and there are tangible benefits for employers who support and allow their staff to become RDS firefighters.
“Having a retained firefighter among their staff means an employer can benefit from the host of transferrable skills that person will learn and maintain.”
Becoming a retained firefighter brings with it a tremendous sense of satisfaction and gives ordinary people an opportunity to do extraordinary work saving lives and protecting both property and the environment.
In return for their service RDS firefighters are paid an annual retainer fee plus additional payments for every incident attended and time spent on all activity, including training nights, community engagement and courses.
Applicants must be aged 18 years or over, have a good level of physical fitness, have the required standard of vision and colour perception and live or work within five to eight minutes of the fire station.
You will need to demonstrate that you have the potential to carry out this challenging role through a rigorous recruitment process.
Full details are available online at www.myjobscotland.gov.uk, where people can find information regarding specific vacancies and download the Recruitment Information Pack.
Applicants are requested to note the key dates for this recruitment process as detailed within the information pack and ensure that they consider their availability to attend on the dates specified, including the initial two-week training course, prior to submitting an application.