On-call firefighter
We are recruiting for on-call firefighters at the following 15 fire stations:
- Ash-Cum Ridley
- Borough Green
- Chilham
- Cliffe
- Dymchurch
- Eastchurch
- Grain
- Hawkhurst
- Headcorn
- Rainham
- Sevenoaks
- Swanscombe
- Teynham
- Westerham
- Wye
Being a part of Kent Fire and Rescue Service
Everyone is unique. Everyone has value. Everyone helps to make Kent Fire and Rescue Service a great place to work. We are one team. Together with our customers, we are creating a safer future for Kent and Medway.
On-call firefighters at Kent Fire and Rescue Service are professional firefighters, making a significant difference to our community. Alongside a full-time job, our on-call firefighters work flexibly, with a mixture of daytime, weekend, and evening shifts. They work a set number of hours every week, to suit their lifestyle.
What would you do as an on-call firefighter?
Being on standby, you’ll go about your day-to-day life, carrying a pager and responding to a variety of emergencies in your neighbourhood, such as fires, road crashes and rescues. You’ll need to be able to get to the fire station and out on the fire engine within five minutes.
If you are interested in joining our team at Kent Fire and Rescue Service as an on-call firefighter, please go to our On-call page to find out further information about the role and how you can apply.
To join us as an on-call firefighter, applicants must:
- be aged 18 years or over (there is no upper age limit
- have the right to work in the UK
- meet the required health and physical fitness standards
- currently live or work within 5 minutes commutable distance of the On Call Station being applied for
- a driving licence is desirable
- Be available to attend a selection assessment day on one of the following dates: 20th, 21st, 23rd, 24th OR 27th October 2025
- Be available to attend the following course dates:
- Saturday 31st January and Sunday 1st February 2026
- 16th to 27th March 2026 inclusive (Monday -Friday only)
Unfortunately, we will not be able to progress your application if you are unable to complete any stage of the selection process or attend all the course dates provided above.
Benefits
- Automatic membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme
- Blue Light Card discount scheme
- A range of family friendly policies including promoting work-life balance
- Access to health and wellbeing services and advice
- Access LinkedIn Learning online training
- Free parking
- Above all you’ll become part of a service that is committed to the safety of our community
How to apply
Please complete an online application by midnight on Friday, 3 October 2025.
Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. We know that great minds don’t think alike, so we rely on diverse thoughts, feelings, beliefs and backgrounds to create the best working environment that we can possibly offer.
Kent Fire and Rescue Service, its employees and volunteers, are committed to safeguarding, protecting and supporting children, young people and adults at risk. As part of our safer recruitment process, we will undertake pre-employment checks to verify your suitability for the role. These checks will include your references and a standard or enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Enhanced DBS check with barred lists are carried out for roles with direct and unsupervised access to children, young people and adults at risk. Risk assessments will be undertaken on any disclosures identified as part of the pre-employment checks.
As a Public Sector organisation with added responsibilities under the Equality Act, 2010 the candidate must demonstrate an understanding of what is meant by Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and how this fits in with their everyday work.
Find out further information about the role