Could you be an on-call firefighter in Malmesbury?

Anyone who lives or works in Malmesbury could be an on-call firefighter - someone who responds to a pager when a 999 call is made locally. Cover is needed at all times.

Contracted hours can vary, but on-call personnel usually make themselves available for between 48 and 120 hours per week.

Between them, each fire station team will provide cover for weekdays, evenings, nights and weekends.

Malmesbury firefighters drill at the town’s fire station in Gloucester Road every Monday evening. However, a special open night is being held on Wednesday, January 14 between 7pm and 9pm so that potential recruits can have a go at a range of activities.

Watch manager Chris Harvey said: “The team at Malmesbury is really committed to helping the community, but we do need more people to join us, especially offering day cover.

"This open evening is a chance for anyone interested in being a firefighter to have a chat with us but also try out different things, such as wearing breathing apparatus or using the hydraulic rescue equipment.

"On-call firefighters receive the same training and development as wholetime colleagues, and we can be called to all sorts of emergencies, including fires, road traffic collisions, animal rescues and flooding. The pay does vary, depending on how much cover you give, but it is fantastically rewarding to be a part of your community and to be in a position to help people.”

In order to be on-call, those who apply will need to be able to respond to the fire station in around five minutes once their pager goes off.

This can be from home or work, and employers can benefit from a firefighter’s training – such as first aid, manual handling, a greater understanding of health and safety in the workplace, and enhanced team spirit.

If you are interested in being a firefighter in Malmesbury and cannot attend the event on January 14, visit wiltsfire.gov.uk/workingforus