North Wales Fire and Rescue Service continues to call on local communities for support with delivering the Retained Duty System (RDS) Firefighting model across the region.

In order to provide a cost effective, yet safe, modern fire and rescue service in North Wales, approximately two thirds of North Wales Fire and Rescue Service’s operational Firefighters are RDS Firefighters.

Senior Recruitment Officer Nicola Jones, explains: “RDS or ‘on-call’ Firefighters are ordinary people who give up their spare time to do an extraordinary job. 

“There is no such thing as a ‘typical Firefighter’ - our Firefighters come from a range of backgrounds such as stay at home parents, factory workers, office workers, farmers, beauty therapists and medical professionals to name but a few.  RDS Firefighters are often supported by community minded employers who will, where possible, release them from work on pre-agreed days and times to attend emergency calls when required. 

“All Firefighters are trained to an exceptionally high standard in order to respond to emergency calls, save lives and property, and prevent emergencies from occurring by providing safety information, advice and support to residents, visitors and businesses across North Wales.”

If you are over the age of 18 and live or work within 5 minutes of a fire station in North Wales, and think you have the ability to take on the physically and mentally demanding yet immensely rewarding role of an RDS Firefighter, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service is asking you to register your interest online by visiting www.nwales-fireservice.org.uk.   

If you are an employer who would like to support the Service and your local community by releasing staff to become RDS Firefighters please call 01745 535281 for more information, including how North Wales Fire and Rescue Service can upskill staff with both specific and transferable skills to mutual benefit.

Senior Operations Manager Stuart Millington adds “RDS or On-call Firefighters provide essential and rewarding fire and emergency cover for their communities 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  

“Some Firefighters provide cover from home, others from work and some from both and this can be over varying times of the day through the week and at weekends. 

“The Service is particularly keen to hear from potential recruits and employers of potential recruits in rural communities where recruitment is more challenging due to the reduced availability of candidates living within an acceptable response time. 

“The recent hot weather which brought an increase in wildfires and emergency calls put added pressure on the Service, but the commitment and hard work of all of our Firefighters, and the support of employers who released staff to carry out RDS Firefighting duties had a positive impact and is a reminder of how vital and valued the RDS Firefighter role is across the region.”

“The list of actively recruiting stations change according to priority at the time, however, currently recruitment resources are focused on the following stations:   Aderdyfi, Amlwch, Barmouth, Beaumaris, Benllech, Betws, Cerrigydrudion, Chirk, Corwen, Harlech, Holyhead, Johnstown, Llangefni, Llangollen, Llanrwst, Porthmadog, Prestatyn, Pwllheli, Rhyl, Ruthin, St Asaph, Tywyn and Wrexham.”

Please take a look at our videos promoting RDS Recruitment available on YouTube here and here and visit the website or contact HRDesk@nwales-fireservice.org.uk / 01745 535281 for more information.