What is a retained firefighter?
Retained firefighters respond to emergencies from home or work. While they are 'on-call' they carry a pager and must be able to get to the fire station within five minutes.They are fully trained to respond to all sorts of emergencies, from fires to traffic collisions to floods and chemical spills.
All retained firefighters work as part of close and supportive teams. They may respond to a call as a single crew, or work alongside their colleagues in the wholetime service at a major incident.
What's in it for me?
All sorts of people are retained firefighters and they each get something a bit different out of it.
As a retained firefighter you will get:
- The satisfaction of knowing you have helped someone in difficult circumstances;
- The confidence that comes from being trained and prepared to be able to do a job well;
- The skills to deal with all sorts of situations, mentally and physically ;
- The self-esteem that comes from working with people you can trust and knowing they trust you.
Retained firefighters enjoy their work, have fun and get paid
How does it work?
Retained firefighters agree to be available for a certain number of hours a week. During this time you carry a pager and must be able to get to the fire station within five minutes of a call.
But, as long as you can get to the station quickly you can carry on with your day-to-day activities - watching TV, washing the car, working or even sleeping.
You need to be able to give enough hours to make your training and commitment worthwhile and, for the sake of other members of the team, those hours should be fairly consistent, although there is usually some flexibility.
If you are responding from work you must have the permission of your employer before you make a commitment to the Service. There are benefits to employers of having a firefighter on their staff and the Service can provide information to help them when considering your request.
If you are responding from home you will need the support of others who may be affected by your hours on-call, your sudden disappearance when responding to a call, or your training sessions.
Could you be a retained firefighter?
You will need to:
- Care about your community;
- Be willing to learn;
- Want to work as part of a team.
If you are over 18 years old and reasonably fit, you could be a retained firefighter.
You do not need any formal qualifications but you will be asked to participate in a selection process which includes a medical examination.
What training is required?
Training is vital to ensure you are ready to respond to all sorts of situations. You will be required to attend an initial training course to learn the basic skills needed to respond to calls. This is normally spread over a number of weeks. During this training you will be assessed at key stages and experienced trainers will be on hand to give you support and help. All firefighters practise and develop their skills throughout their working life. Retained firefighters must attend weekly training sessions to maintain their ability to respond to a variety of situations. These normally take place at your local fire station and last between two and three hours, but sometimes you may be asked to go to another station to learn how use special equipment or practice particular skills.
Occasionally, you will also be asked to go back to our training centre for set courses, such as breathing apparatus or first aid courses.
You will be paid from the moment you are appointed, so you will start being paid during your basic training. The Service covers the cost of all expenses incurred on its behalf and all the equipment and clothing is provided.
Opportunities for all
Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority actively seeks to recruit anyone who wants to be a retained firefighter if they meet the necessary standards and criteria.
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