The fire station in Kings Langley is on the look-out for new firefighters who can respond to operational emergency calls.

Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is currently recruiting retained and on call fire-fighters, and need people that can offer daytime cover during the week.

Retained firefighters are people who combine their day jobs and commitments at home with being an ‘on call’ fully qualified retained fire-fighter, responsible for half of the county’s fire engines.

They are ‘on call’ from their home or work to respond to operational calls when alerted by the control room, committing to be available for a certain number of hours per week.

Watch Commander Matthew Day of Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service, said: "Our retained fire-fighters come from all walks of life, including builders, factory, shop and office workers as wellas company directors.

""The only requirements for applicants are that they must be of a minimum age of 18, reasonably fit and healthy and live or work within four minutes of their local retained fire station.

"We welcome inquiries from all sections of the community and the successful applicants will be paid a monthly retainer fee plus additional for training hours and call outs. It's also a chance to become a crucial member of a highly trained and tight-knit team.

"It's such a valuable service to provide to your local community and I would encourage people to come down and see if it’s for them at the open evening on July 14, 7.30pm, at Berkhamsted fire station."

Retained fire-fighters help save lives by attending emergencies, including fighting fires, road traffic collisions and animal rescues. They are also trained in specialist skills and can be called upon to provide these skills at major incidents anywhere in the county.

For example, retained fire fighter Simon Baldwin works as an HGV workshop manager at Gregory & Davis Transport in Kings Langley.

Mr Baldwin has an arrangement with his employer that allows him to respond to operational calls during the majority of the time he is at work.

The deal works both ways with Mr Baldwin taking a range of new skills acquired through the fire service back into his daytime job such as trauma care/first aid and health and safety training.

Mr Baldwin attends on average two to three calls a week and any that occur during his normal daytime working hours he makes up for with a shorter lunch break or at the end of the day.

Following on from the information evening on July 14 there is a selection day scheduled for Tuesday the September 8.

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