Frequently asked questions
How fit do I need to be?
Most people who take part in a sport on a regular basis, such as tennis or football, would be fit enough. But the fitter you are the better.
How close to the fire station do I have to be?
You must be able to get to the fire station within five minutes of a call. The distance can vary depending on where the fire station is but this normally means within about a mile to a mile and a half.
Can I go shopping/visiting/out while on call?
Yes, but you must make sure that you carry your pager and that you can still get to the station within five minutes. Of course you must not drink alcohol or do anything else which might prevent you being able to deal with an incident, if called.
Do I need any qualifications?
No, but you will need to pass selection tests.
Will my disability prevent me from becoming a retained firefighter?
Your disability need not be a barrier to a career with the fire and rescue service. We are proud of the arrangements we have made for our disabled firefighters (
click here for more information|).
Just remember to tell us what adjustments you may need us to make for your recruitment process.
What happens if I cannot do my hours?
It is important that everyone makes a regular commitment but we realise that sometimes things happen to make this difficult. Usually the rest of the team will cover for a short periods.
What if I cannot do the same hours every week or I need to change the hours I do?
You need to commit to a certain number of hours to get your retained fee (monthly payment). But there is some flexibility depending on the ability of the rest of the team to change hours to cover.
How much will I get paid?
The annual retained fee varies depending on how many hours you agree to be on call. For a trained firefighter offering 120 hours or more cover the maximum payment is £2,500.00 per annum.
You will also be paid for each time you are called out and for each incident you go to you will be paid £14.70. If you are at the incident for longer than an hour and 15 minutes you will get an hourly rate of £11.42
You are also paid for each drill night (weekly training session) you attend. For each two-hour drill night you will receive £22.84 and for a three-hour drill night you will receive £34.26.
Kent Fire & Rescue Service Headquarters, The Godlands, Straw Mill Hill, Tovil,
Maidstone. Kent, ME15 6XB Tel: 01622 692121
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