South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue
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Have a go at being an on-call firefighter

Are you interested in becoming an on-call firefighter but are not sure what’s involved?

What is an on-call firefighter?

An on-call firefighter is someone employed by a fire and rescue service who is ‘on-call’ to respond to a range of emergencies and to engage with their community. They respond from home, or another place of work, where they have everyday lives and jobs – until their pager sounds and they become professional firefighters.

Put into more general terms, an on-call firefighter could be classed as a part-time firefighter. Part-time or not, though, they are fully trained and experienced people on the front line, saving lives and protecting people. They are exceptional individuals and there is nothing ‘part-time’ about their commitment.

Our on-call staff come from all areas of the community. For example, they could be stay at home parents, in full or part-time employment, working for themselves, studying at college or university or not currently employed. They are paid for their services, receive thorough training and are taught all they need to know about emergency situations.

We’re going to be opening on-call recruitment again soon and we’re hosting “Have A Go” sessions at stations around the county on the following dates:

  • Rossington Fire Station: Saturday 23 November, 10am – 4pm
  • Penistone Fire Station: Wednesday 4 December, 5.30pm – 8.30pm
  • Stocksbridge Fire Station, Wednesday 18 December, 5.30pm – 8pm

Contact our on-call support team to find out more and book your place

Firefighter Mason joins Rossington on-call crew after being rescued as a child

Fifteen years after being rescued from flooding as a child, a Rossington man has joined the same on-call firefighting crew that saved him.

Mason Stead, 19, was one of five firefighter recruits who graduated from their intense training course earlier this month.

He is now an operational firefighter at Rossington fire station, responding from home or work when people in the community need him and the crew.

Mason, who was four-years-old when rescued from the 2007 floods, says he has dreamt of being a firefighter ever since that moment.

“Being rescued from the floods all those years ago isn’t something I’ve ever forgotten, and since that moment I have dreamt of being a firefighter and being able to help someone else in their hour of need, like the Rossington crew did for me,” he added.

“The training course we’ve been on over the last few months has been challenging, in every sense, but to complete it is the most rewarding feeling in the world.

“I’m extremely proud to have passed the course and now be a part of the Rossington crew that does such good work in the community.”

The service is currently recruiting for on-call firefighters at Askern, Rossington and Penistone – with officers urging anyone interested to register quickly, as time is running out.

This latest recruitment window runs until the end of March, with the next on-call recruitment drive taking place in September this year.

On-call firefighters have the same high standard of training as full-time firefighters, but they operate on a ‘part-time’ basis and respond either from home or a place of work when alerted by a pager.

“Our on-call staff are ordinary people that do an extra ordinary job. Whilst their contracts may be part-time, their commitment is so much more than that,” said Station Manager Chris Tyler, who oversees on-call recruitment for the service.

“This latest recruitment drive has come off the back of some huge success in recent years – seeing us go from seven stations with vacancies to only three.

“For people who live within these three station areas, it’s a massive opportunity to take on a rewarding role that will see you serve your community and earn extra cash.”

Anyone interested in joining the service as an on-call firefighter is encouraged to first register their interest in a role, here. Please note, you must live or work within a five/six minute travel time of the station to be considered for a role.

Firefighter Ellie becomes family’s third generation to serve at Askern fire station

Three generations of the same firefighting family attended an extra special ceremony to mark the graduation of the latest recruit to join the ranks at Askern fire station.

Ellie Adams, aged 23, has became the third generation of her family to serve at Askern, Doncaster after completing her initial training and ‘passing out’ in front of family and friends at South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue’s Sheffield training base.

Amongst those watching were Ellie’s dad Steve Adams and grandad Michael Jackson who both served on-call at Askern fire station.

On-call firefighters are paid for their training, for being on-call and for each incident they attend – but they must live or work within a five minute drive of their closest fire station.

Dad Steve, who retires from South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue after 35 years’ service later this month, said: “It was an incredibly proud day for the whole family. Firefighting isn’t something we’ve necessarily pushed on Ellie as a family, but as soon as she heard that we were recruiting at Askern fire station she wanted to give it a go. Like the rest of the recent recruits, she’s had to work really hard to complete her initial training, but the way she’s applied herself to it all has made me really proud.”

Ellie’s grandad Michael Jackson joined Askern fire station in 1960 aged 17- combining his firefighting role with a full time job at the nearby colliery. He rose to the rank of sub-officer, before retiring from the fire service in 1981.

He’d been inspired to sign-up by his older brother Fred- a D-Day veteran who joined Doncaster Fire Brigade in 1947, before going on to become Chief Fire Officer in Hong Kong.

Michael is father-in-law to Steve, who began work at Askern in 1987 before becoming a full time firefighter with South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue in 1996. He’s been there ever since, rising to the rank of Group Manager.

Now daughter Ellie has followed in both their footsteps. She joined South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue in September after completing a pandemic disrupted university degree. She’s been working towards completing her initial training, culminating in last week’s ceremony.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue is currently recruiting on-call firefighters at Askern, Rossington and Penistone fire station.

For more information on the role of an on-call firefighter or to apply, visit the service’s website here.

Fire service launches business safety recruitment drive

A massive fire service recruitment drive aims to boost its work enforcing safety laws.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue has today (Wednesday 7 July) launched a major new campaign calling on people to consider a role within its business fire safety team.

The team is responsible for everything from inspecting businesses and licensing fireworks retailers, to checking high-rise buildings – work which has increased significantly following the Grenfell Tower disaster.

Area Manager Simon Dunker, said: “Our frontline fire crews rightly get praise for the brilliant job they do responding to 999 calls, but our business fire safety officers play just as an important role in terms of making sure businesses and other premises are complying with safety laws designed to keep people safe.

“We’re looking for people with a hunger to learn and a desire to make a difference to put themselves forward for a team which ultimately saves lives.”

The service is currently advertising for positions as business fire safety advisors – with further vacancies expected to follow.

For more information, click here

Children talk about their firefighter mums to mark International Women’s Day

The fire service has unveiled a tear jerking video celebrating the role of women in the fire service, to mark a major global awareness day.

But firefighters are not the stars of the show- as the children of serving staff take centre stage in the super cute short film.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue says the viral video’s release on International Women’s Day is designed to make more women think about a career in the fire service.

Alex Johnson, Assistant Chief Fire Officer at South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue, said: “Perceptions of the fire service as being a male dominated organisation are changing and here in South Yorkshire we have already come a very long way, with female firefighters serving on the front line at fire stations all over the county for nearly 30 years. We also have lots of women working in support staff roles and International Women’s Day is an ideal opportunity to celebrate the contribution all the women we employ make towards making our communities safer and stronger.

“But at the same time we fully accept that we still have a long way to go before we become truly representative of the communities which we serve. The role of a firefighter has changed considerably in recent years, and we now play a vital social role, including youth work, safety initiatives and carrying out home safety checks. As the highest ranking female officer in South Yorkshire, I will continue to be a strong advocate for women in the fire service, hopefully inspiring more women to think about a career they may never have considered before.”

Register your interest in the next round of firefighter recruitment here

Fire service offers women chance to ‘have a go’ at career day

Women who have never considered a career as a firefighter before are being urged to ‘have a go’, at a specially arranged event in Sheffield.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue (SYFR) is hoping for dozens of women to sign up for the session which is being held as part of a fresh drive to make the service more representative of the communities it serves.

The ‘Have A Go’ event aims to clarify and dispel many of the preconceptions people from under-represented areas of the community might have about joining the fire service.

SYFR is calling on women to sign-up for the event and find out what it takes to become a firefighter with South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer John Roberts said: “Perceptions of the fire service as being a white male dominated organisation are changing and here in South Yorkshire we have already come a very long way, with firefighters from underrepresented groups including many women on the front line at fire stations all over the county.

“But at the same time we fully accept that we still have a long way to go before we become truly representative of the communities which we serve. The role of a firefighter has changed considerably in recent years, and we now play a vital social role, including youth work, fire safety initiatives and carrying out free home safety checks.

“The aim of this campaign is to give under represented groups, including women, an insight into what the role and selection process entails, and hopefully make them think about a career they may never have considered before.”

Last year, South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue appointed its first new firefighters in eight years. The eight recruits have completed their initial training and have joined fire stations following a passing out parade in Sheffield last week.

Although there are no immediate plans to open recruitment for full time firefighters, there remain opportunities for on-call firefighters and the service is keen to raise awareness of firefighting as a career amongst diverse groups should it recruit for frontline roles in the future.

The ‘Have A Go Day’ for women will take place at SYFR’s Handsworth training base on Saturday 13 February.

If you are a woman and want to find out more about a career with the fire service, register for the event by emailing recruitment@syfire.gov.uk or for more information visit www.syfrrecruitment.com