Shropshire Star

Female firefighters wanted for Oswestry

Women are being encouraged to attend a firefighter taster day in Oswestry on June 17.

Published
At a previous taster day at Oswestry fire station, from left, Kate Hobbis, Jeanette Cartwright and Amy Gaunt.

Those who live within five minutes of the station in Willow Street can spend the morning finding out out life as a firefighter.

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service says it would like to see more women train as on call firefighters as it looks for more recruits not only in Oswestry but also for the stations at Baschurch, Church Stretton, Clun, Minsterley and Bishops Castle.

The event in Oswestry will run from 9.30am until 12.30pm.

Hayley Gazey, from the brigade’s Human Resources department said more women were becoming county firefighters with a continuing campaign over the past few years by Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service to raise awareness and encourage more women recruits.

There are 26 women firefighters in Shropshire, eight in wholetime roles at fire stations in Shrewsbury, Telford and Wellington fire stations and 18 on call from the county’s rural stations.

At the latest taster day in Oswestry visitors will be shown around fire appliances, put on fire kit and try out breathing apparatus under instruction from the Oswestry crew.

"Candidates can talk to firefighters, learn about the recruitment process, tour the fire station and checkout the equipment." Hazel said.

"There are 479 Shropshire firefighters, with 80 per cent on call who turn out in an emergency to protect their communities. There have been women firefighters in fire stations in Shropshire and across the UK for many years but it is a career that many women generally don’t consider.

“We provide training, support, promotion opportunities, excellent pay and conditions of service. If you want a rewarding career that is a little bit different then firefighting could be the job for you.”

Firefighters are physically fit and highly trained. They attend weekly training sessions to keep their skills up to date and are called out to deal with fires, floods, road traffic crashes, animal rescues, building collapses and any other major incidents.

For more information call 01743 260441 or turn up at the taster session in Oswestry on Saturday, June 17. Those interested can also visit the careers section at www.shropshirefire.gov.uk and fill in a questionnaire.