ANYONE interested in becoming a firefighter with Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service can find out more at a special Facebook Live event being held this Friday (24 July).
The live online Q&A session forms part of a virtual open day, being hosted on the Service’s Facebook page @DWFireRescue, and will cover both on-call and wholetime firefighter recruitment.
Many of DWFRS’s on-call stations need new firefighters to join, and the Q&A is an opportunity to find out more about the level of commitment needed, the application process and eligibility criteria.
Anyone interested in becoming a wholetime firefighter can also join the session to find out more about vacancies that are due to be advertised in October.
Area Manager Ian Jeary, who will be involved in the chat, said: “We really want to encourage women, black and ethnic minority people and anyone who identifies as LGBTQ to consider applying; the fire and rescue service should reflect the communities it serves, and we’re keen that everyone feels able to get involved, whether for wholetime or on-call. This live Q&A is a chance for us to address any concerns or bust some myths, so please join the conversation!”
He added: “We’re starting to promote the wholetime recruitment process now because we know that one of the barriers that prevents some people from applying is fitness. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be providing lots of advice online and via our social media, to help potential recruits prepare and build up their fitness ahead of applications opening in October.”
The virtual open day will also feature a number of displays and demonstrations, posted to Facebook between 11am and 2pm. These include a tour of Swindon fire station, some water rescue training, kitchen safety advice, a hot oil fire demonstration, and a tour of the 42m aerial ladder platform based at Westbourne fire station.
Visit www.facebook.com/DWFireRescue from 11am on Friday to be part of the open day, and tune in at 2pm for the live Q&A.
Further information about the Service and becoming a firefighter can be found at www.dwfire.org.uk
