Cumbria County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) will be launching a recruitment drive for new full-time firefighters in May 2019.
Applications will open online on Monday 20 May and will close on Friday 31 May.
CFRS is seeking to recruit 24 new full-time firefighters who will undergo an intensive training programme and then start their careers as full-time firefighters by joining crews throughout Cumbria.
Anyone interested in becoming a firefighter is invited to come along to information and taster events taking place at fire stations in Cumbria, where they can talk to serving firefighters, find out more about the role and have a go at some firefighter drills. Events are being held on:
- Monday 29 April, 6.30pm-9.30pm – Workington Fire Station
- Tuesday 30 April, 6.30pm-9.30pm – Barrow Fire Station
- Wednesday 1 May, 6.30pm-9.30pm – Carlisle East Fire Station
- Saturday 4 May 2pm-5pm – Penrith Fire Station – This event is aimed particularly at female applicants. All are invited to attend.
- Monday 13 May 2019, 6.30pm-9.30pm – Workington Fire Station
- Tuesday 14 May 2019, 6.30pm-9.30pm – Barrow Fire Station
- Wednesday 15 May 2019, 6.30pm-9.30pm – Carlisle East Fire Station
The recruitment campaign will celebrate the modern day firefighter and highlight the key role they play in their community, challenging outdated stereotypes and myths.
Applications from female candidates, black and minority ethnic groups and the LGBT+ community are particularly encouraged as the service recognises these are groups of society that are currently under-represented.
Cumbria’s Chief Fire Officer Steve Healey said: “We will be recruiting a new cohort of wholetime firefighters in May and I would encourage men and women to consider a career as a firefighter. Information events are being held at fire stations in the county where you can find out more about the role and talk to our firefighters.
“Perceptions of the fire and rescue service as being a male dominated organisation are changing. In Cumbria, we have female firefighters on the front line at fire stations throughout the county and I would like to see more so that the Service reflects our local communities.
“Being a modern day firefighter is a fantastic job; it’s not just about putting out fires, we do a tremendous amount of fire safety and prevention work in our local communities. Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service offers an interesting, exciting and rewarding career, and we want as many people as possible to come forward and help us find our next new recruits.”
New recruits are needed because CFRS expects a number of serving firefighters to retire or be promoted in the future.
Find out more about the role of a full-time firefighter and the application process by going online at cumbria.gov.uk/joinCFRS
