Northumberland has received a safety boost following the recruitment of 10 additional retained firefighters. The trainees have completed their initial training and are now able to take part in response operations as well as supporting community safety initiatives within their area.

Retained firefighters (also known as ‘on-call’ firefighters) are men and women who can have full time employment as well as being able to respond to emergency calls in their local areas when required.

Retained firefighters are the backbone of the Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service, but due to the pressures of committing to additional employment, many potential candidates are put off from applying.

After taking control of the council in May though, Northumberland Conservatives have prioritised recruiting more Retained firefighters. Councillor John Riddle, the council’s portfolio holder for Planning, Housing and Resilience, which includes the Fire & Rescue Service, met with personnel to discuss the challenges of life as an on-call firefighter.

He said: “The hardworking men and women I met at Prudhoe Station told me about the difficulty of balancing two jobs and family life. Many people who are put off by the prospect of signing up, but those who made the commitment also told me how rewarding it was. The training, the camaraderie, the opportunity to give something back to the local community were all factors which made the challenging job worthwhile for many".

“It was also the first time, for a number of years, that a portfolio holder had been to see them, so it was important for me to stress to them how much their contribution is appreciated.

"Through this new recruitment drive, and the additional personnel who are awaiting interview, we will be able to improve the overall availability of fire appliances, ensuring the county has first class protection and resilience. The new recruits will be providing fire cover from Haltwhistle, Rothbury, Berwick, Allendale, Prudhoe, Ponteland, Seahouses and Alnwick."

Anyone with an interest in becoming a retained firefighter is encouraged to get in touch with the council to learn more about the role of the On Call / Retained firefighter and hopefully to begin the recruitment process.