The community is at the heart of Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS), and on-call firefighters help to strengthen those links by serving the villages and towns where they live and work. 

Luke Pritchard is an on-call firefighter based in Faversham, where he lives with his wife and their two young children. 

Having grown up in the town, the 35-year-old wanted to be a firefighter at his local fire station from a young age and successfully applied for the role four years ago. 

He said: “It’s a job I’ve always admired. I was one of those kids who waved at the fire engine as it went by, and now I’m the one in the fire engine. It’s an amazing feeling. 

“It’s really rewarding when you go to a job where somebody is having a really bad day, and you can do something to make it a bit better. It’s nice to give something back to the community and be out there keeping people safe.” 

Luke is able to provide day and evening cover for KFRS, thanks to the support of his employer at MME Engineering, which is a short drive from the fire station. 

To be an on-call firefighter, crews need to live or work within five minutes of an on-call fire station. Another requirement is to carry a pager when on duty, which sounds when crews are needed to make their way to station to attend an incident.

Luke, who is a foreman at the metal foundry, said: “I’m fortunate my employer is really supportive of me being an on-call firefighter. 

“There’s been times when I’ve had to run out in the middle of a meeting but my employer understands it is part of the job. 

“He sees it as a way of helping the community, which is important for him as a local business owner. They also benefit from the skills I’ve gained in the fire service, such as being qualified in first aid and being more aware of fire safety.” 

Luke has the support of his wife, Rebecca, and their family, including 12-year-old daughter, Macie, and nine-year-old Connor, who have embraced their dad’s additional responsibilities. 

He said: “We have just factored it in around our lives. We can be half way through watching a film and I have to run out, and the kids say “see you later, daddy,” they love it. 

“I’m really proud to set a good example for the children. It’s something I’ve always aspired to be and it shows them they can be whatever they want to be when they’re older.

“Even if you have a young family, it’s definitely something that is doable. It’s very flexible and you can work it around your family life, or you work life. It’s a lot easier than people might think.” 

As well inspiring his children, Luke hopes to encourage other people to consider the role. 

He said: “To be an on-call firefighter, you need to be committed, as there’s a lot of training involved, and you need to be a good team member, as well as being professional and compassionate. 

“It really is a rewarding job. You never know what you’re going to, you never stop learning, and you’re part of a great team.”

On-call firefighters are expected to undertake and attend training at least once per week, and be available for at least 50 hours a week. They receive an annual wage to reflect the time they commit to being available, plus additional payments for certain activities. 

There are vacancies available right now at various stations across the county.