Without them, Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service – which has 300 retained firefighters – would be in “dire straits.”

Councillor Chris Mellings, a member of Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority., said 70 per cent of fire cover in Shropshire was provided by the retained service.

In some parts of the county there are “real” difficulties staffing some rural fire stations, particularly during the daytime. Without the help of employers in releasing staff there would be a problem in providing fire cover for the county, he added.

“Releasing staff for fire cover is a valuable contribution but it works two ways. Not only does the service and the community benefit but employers also win by having employees who are extremely well trained.”

Employers in north Shropshire attended a special thank-you celebration held at Prees Fire Station where they each received a framed certificate congratulating them for their efforts.

Carl Blank, owner and director of Christian Torsten which builds timber-framed buildings, said: “It is part of our social fabric. If nobody did it, who would cut me out of a car if I had a crash?”

Employee Charlie Cheshire, a forklift truck driver who is also a Wem firefighter, has to leave his job instantly when the bleeper calls him and his crew to an emergency.

“It is not that often. It may just be half a dozen times a year that he gets a call out during work hours. I know what it is like to be on the receiving end of a fire and every employer should do their bit to help,” said Mr Blank, who experienced an industrial blaze at Wem a few years ago when one of his units burned down.

Employer Richard Evans, who runs Stellex with 45 employees at Prees Industrial Estate has known firefighter Peter Grocott who works as a machinist at his engineering company “since he was a boy.”

“A shout is a shout. You can’t say they can’t go because it might be your house burning down,” said Mr Evans who runs Shropshire’s last heavy engineering company which makes tractors for reversing aeroplanes.

Mr Evans, who did have five retained firefighters working for him at one stage, said his company had a flexible arrangement where staff made up the work time.

Any employers who would like to volunteer to help the retained service by encouraging their staff to join the retained service should contact district officer Phil Brooks at Shrewsbury fire HQ on 01743 260 200 or visit http://www.shropshirefire.gov.uk/ 

Pictured are cCounty employers Paul Castell, William Furber, Roy Chambers, Carl Blank, Brian Ruscoe, Tim Sneddon, Karen Chambers and Philip Jones, with Prees fire station manager Vincent Lines.