RECRUITING retained firefighters was becoming increasingly challenging in the current economic climate, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority (DSFR) has been told.
Rural fire stations in particular were suffering, with some operating with only three-quarters of their desired personnel.
The authority was told many employers had fewer staff these days and together with fears about job security, more people felt they could not leave work at short notice to attend a fire call.
One fire station commander told the authority: “The economic climate has changed, and it is harder for us to delve into the local pot as a lot of people have not been allowed to leave work.
“We need to get local employers to try and support us, but there are no end of shops that used to employ five people, and so would willingly let one go, but now it is down to the owner and one member of staff, and so they do not want to lose that person.”
The commander said many businesses would benefit from employing on-call firefighters because they had exceptional First Aid training and could conduct fire assessments.
He said: “Lots of businesses do not send their employees to First Aid courses or know how to use a fire extinguisher, so, if one of their employees was an on-call firefighter, the employer would be benefitting from the skills the fire service has taught that individual.”
DSFR confirmed it was ‘always recruiting on-call firefighters’, particularly in more rural and remote areas.
A spokesperson said: “On-call firefighters are paid by the hour for each hour they commit to be available.
“Depending on their personal circumstances, individuals can choose to be available for anywhere between 30 and 120 hours a week.
“This provides a great deal of flexibility on the hours firefighters need to commit to, and gives them a better work-life balance.”