Fire service looks for new recruits
AN appeal has been made for new retained firefighters in Banff and Turriff.
The latest phase of the Retained Duty System (RDS) recruitment campaign has opened and applicants have three weeks to express an interest in joining the service as a part-time firefighter.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said becoming a retained firefighter brings with it a tremendous sense of satisfaction and gives people an opportunity to do extraordinary work, helping protect communities from fire and saving lives and the environment.
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.
Applicants must be aged 18 or over, have a good level of physical fitness, have the required standard of vision and colour perception and live or work within eight minutes of the fire station.
Banff and Buchan station manager Bruce Milne said: "Retained firefighters are called upon to attend the same wide range of emergency service as full-time firefighters, including fires, floods, road traffic accidents, chemical spills and more.
"They can also be called upon to work with full-time firefighters to promote fire safety messages, giving safety advice to schools and other organisations as well as carrying out free home risk assessments.
"It is a very rewarding job and there are tangible benefits for employers who support and allow their staff to become firefighters."
In return, retained firefighters are paid an annual retainer plus additional payments for every incident attended and time spent on all activities including training nights, community engagement and courses.
Applicants will need to demonstrate that they have the potential to carry out this challenging role through a rigorous recruitment process, full details of which are documented within in an information pack, with further supplementary information provided on www.firescotland.gov.uk
They are requested to note the key dates for this recruitment process 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.
To apply, speak to someone at a fire station or visit www.myjobscotland.gov.uk/emergency-services/scottish-fire-and-rescue-service/jobs
