ANYONE interested in giving some free time to their community is invited to apply to become a retained firefighter.

Although no additional personnel are currently needed at any fire stations in the Cotswolds, others in Gloucestershire are currently recruiting.

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service will be holding a number of recruitment dates to meet people interested in joining the organisation.

The only requirements are that applicants must be 18 or older, physically fit and living or working within five minutes of a fire station.

Successful applicants will be given full training and paid a monthly retainer fee, including additional pay for call-outs.

Recruitment nights will be held at the following stations:

  • Lydney – January 28 from 6.30pm until 9pm.
  • Wotton-under-Edge – January 29 from 6.30pm until 9pm.
  • Dursley – January 29 from 6.30pm until 9pm.
  • Painswick – January 30 from 6.30pm until 9pm.
  • Chipping Campden – January 31 from 6.30pm until 9pm.
  • Stroud – January 31 from 6.30pm until 9pm. Recruitment for Nailsworth will also be held at this location.

Gloucestershire’s chief fire officer Jon Hall said he hoped as many people as possible would apply.

“This is a chance to become a member of a highly-skilled team and to contribute to the safety of the communities in which we all live,” he said.

“It’s an important job, which requires great energy and dedication, but it’s also a highly rewarding role working within a tight-knit team. Retained firefighters come from all sections of the community, so anyone who thinks they can do something extraordinary should step forward.”

Gloucestershire County Council cabinet member for communities Cllr Will Windsor-Clive (Con, Newent) described retained firefighters as “a vital cog in the wheel” of keeping communities safe.

“Anyone who thinks they have what it takes to be a firefighter should take this first important step to find out more about the role,” he said.