MP Shahid Malik launches firefighter appeal

Nov 2 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

“Fire and Rescue Services need to recruit on-call firefighters and I hope that businesses, no matter how big or small, will respond positively to their staff asking to be able to become as on-call firefighters.

“The Government is grateful to all those businesses who are able to release their staff and to the people who are willing to give up their time to be on-call firefighters to help save the lives of others.”

On-call firefighters are dedicated paid volunteers. But unlike full-time firefighters they aren’t based at a fire station – many have jobs elsewhere and head to their local fire station when there's an emergency call.

On-call Firefighters provide England with 30% of all firefighting personnel, and crews to 50% of fire stations

Serving as an on-call firefighter is open to both men and women. Nationally 3.8% of on-call firefighters are women.

There are currently nearly 14,200 on-call (retained duty system) firefighters in England.

On-call firefighters serve the community in which they live and/or work. They agree to be available to respond for a certain number of hours per week. They carry a pager and must be able to get to the fire station within five minutes of a call during the times they have booked available to cover.

Once alerted, they make their way to the station to respond to the incident.