North Wales Fire and Rescue Service is pleased to support a campaign led by the National Fire Chiefs Council encouraging people step forward and explore the opportunities the Fire and Rescue Service can offer people who have a passion for working in and helping their local community by becoming on-call firefighters.

The ‘Need More’ on-call fire campaign is in its third year and runs from 1st - 7th March aims to highlight opportunities which are open to people from all walks of life. The campaign is supported by a national website - www.oncallfire.uk - which allows people to find out more about on-call roles and get in touch with North Wales Fire and Rescue Service at any time of the year.

Working as an on-call firefighter means being involved in a wide range of activities in your local area, from responding to emergency calls to carrying out work in local communities to support their needs or providing prevention advice to help keep them safe.

In return, the fire and rescue service can offer flexible work to fit around study, work and family commitments, first class training and development opportunities and a chance to make a difference in your local community.

Paul Jenkinson, Senior Operations Manager, said: “On-Call Firefighters are a vital part of North Wales Fire and Rescue Service. The role is demanding, unpredictable, exciting and rewarding, coupled with the satisfaction and respect that comes with providing a crucial service to your local community.

“We would be delighted to hear from applicants who can give their time to the Service and who wish to help protect their local community and who meet the eligibility criteria.

“Our on-call recruitment process has now resumed with Covid-19 restrictions in place and we are progressing applicants based on the needs of the fire station they are applying for.

“We are particularly keen to hear from people who can offer cover at our more rural stations.

“We are currently recruiting for on-call firefighters at Aberdyfi, Abersoch, Amlwch, Bala, Beaumaris, Benllech, Betws y Coed, Cerrigydrudion, Corwen, Harlech, Llangefni, Llanrwst, Menai Bridge, Porthmadog, St Asaph, Tywyn. Visit www.nwales-fireservice.org.uk for further details.”

Joe Hassell, NFCC on-call lead, said “Communities have seen the brilliant work the Fire Service has done in supporting them during the Covid-19 pandemic. Activities that our fantastic on-call firefighters have been involved in have ranged from providing advice to people staying safe at home, driving ambulances, supporting vaccination efforts as well as continuing to provide emergency response. By doing these activities as well as responding to our normal emergencies our staff will have helped thousands of people.

“Many people who would welcome the chance to join us in supporting their area but maybe thought they couldn’t consider being a firefighter. There will never be a better time to help serve your local community and help save lives. Now is the chance to find out if the fire and rescue service is something you can be a part of.

Working in the fire and rescue service means you become part of a close-knit team, earn extra money and receive full and ongoing training so you develop a broad range of transferable work and life skills. Fire services are keen to ensure that their workforce reflect the local communities they will work in and so welcome enquiries from all, no previous experience is necessary, but you will need:

• A strong desire to support the local community
• Enthusiasm for working as part of a team
• A reasonable level of fitness
• Typically live and/or work within a set response time, usually five minutes, of a fire station