DEVON and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service is looking for people in the Hatherleigh community to be on-call or 'retained' firefighters.

No previous experience of fire fighting is necessary for this role — the ideal prospective firefighter starts with a commitment to the community, a positive attitude and a good level of fitness.

This is an opportunity for men and women who live or work within five minutes' response time to the fire station to potentially save lives in fire, flood and road traffic emergencies.

Being on-call means that you provide a level of cover while at work or at home and when you are needed, your pager will alert you to attend the station.

People who can give cover during the day are particularly needed. Many people have primary occupations while on-call.

Either employed or self-employed, the service has examples of employees in factories, shops, takeaways and restaurants who are on-call firefighters.

Mark Sanders, the local risk manager for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said: 'We are particularly looking for people who can be on call from 8am to 5pm on weekdays as well as weekends.

'The role is varied, and many of the skills you learn as a firefighter are transferrable to other jobs and roles.

'Being an important part of the community is a large part of being a firefighter.

'We have vacancies now but we never have enough on-call firefighters to fully satisfy our needs so we are looking for as many people as possible to sign up.'

You need to be over 18 and have a good level of fitness and strength, but sometimes people overestimate the levels required and this can deter them from applying. 

The service will give people advice and help in preparing for both the written and practical assessments.

Equally living with a disability is not automatically a barrier to operational fire fighting, it depends on the nature of the disability. 

Once you are recruited, full training is provided.

If you are interested go  to Hatherleigh Fire Station, Hill Meadow, Bridge Street, EX20 3JA, on Thursday, February 12 at 7pm and find out what it means to be an on-call firefighter.