ADDITIONAL on-call firefighters are being sought in Bewdley and Stourport.

Potential applicants are being invited to awareness sessions being run at the towns’ fire stations next week by Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS) to learn more about the role.

The sessions will be held at Bewdley Fire Station in Dog Lane, Bewdley, next Tuesday and at Stourport Fire Station in Foundry Street, Stourport, on Wednesday, both starting at 7pm.

Station Commander George Marshall of HWFRS urged anyone interested in finding out more about becoming an on-call firefighter at either Bewdley or Stourport to book a place at one of the sessions.

He said: “It’s a chance to get more information on the requirements of the role and the application process and also to chat face to face with firefighters already working on the retained duty system.”

He explained that individuals must live or work within five minutes of the fire station and needed to be aged 18 or over at the date of joining. The service is looking to recruit both men and women who can work as part of a team and have compassion, sensitivity, discretion and diplomacy.

On-call firefighters are fully trained and gain knowledge and skills in areas such as accident prevention and first aid that can be of benefit at home or in the workplace.

It was described as a challenging yet rewarding role, providing a vital service within the local communities, from saving lives at the scene of road traffic collisions to preventing fires in homes and businesses.

Trainee firefighters receive an annual retainer of up to £2,137, plus extra pay for attending call-outs. When fully trained they can earn up to £8,000 a year, depending on the level of cover provided.

To book a place at either Bewdley or Stourport awareness sessions, contact HWFRS’s HR department on 01905 368 343 or 24-hour answerphone line on 01905 368 378.

Further details, including a video about the role of on-call firefighters, can be found on the service’s website at hwfire.org.uk