FIREFIGHTERS are needed to work on a standby basis to provide mostly daytime cover across Otley and Ilkley.
On-call firefighters are paid to work on a standby system, sometimes as a second job. They must live, work or reside within one mile of the fire station, or be able to reach their station within five minutes of receiving an emergency call. The recruiting stations predominantly need daytime cover between 7am and 7pm.
On-call firefighters respond either from a home or work, as some employers allow their staff to be released for emergency calls. Their training, and the range of incidents they attend, is exactly the same as their full-time colleagues who are based at a fire station 24 hours a day.
A series of taster sessions have been held around West Yorkshire, where anyone interested in applying has had the opportunity to try out the basic training exercises. However, attendance at a taster session is not a pre-requisite to apply and anyone who feels they meet the criteria is welcome to submit an
application.
Ian Brandwood, chief employment services officer, said: “We received unprecedented interest in our taster sessions this year, which goes to show just how popular a career in the fire and rescue service is.
“On-call firefighters perform such a vital duty for their community, providing emergency cover from home or work. Judging by the phenomenal response we have had to our taster sessions, we are optimistic that the candidates this year will be of the highest quality and we are particularly keen to attract applications from women and members of the minority ethnic community.”
Councillor Judith Hughes, chair of West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority, said: “On-call firefighters have the flexibility to fit work around family life, therefore I’m hopeful that we will attract a high calibre of women, as well as men, this year."
Following feedback from previous applicants, WYFRS can now offer more flexible contracts to applicants, many of whom may want to work around family commitments. The deadline for applications is Sunday, February 28.
Full details of the criteria, as well as the application form, is available at www.westyorksfire.gov.uk/careers
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