Firefighter Hannah Archdeacon

Wholetime

“I have two young children so it can be a juggling act between shifts and nursery runs, but it’s very good for work-life balance. A lot of colleagues have families so there’s a big support network within the Fire Service.”

Firefighter Aggi Wieczorek

Wholetime

“I grew up in Poland and had an interest in the Fire Service from a young age, but while there are female firefighters in Poland, there is a perception that women can’t do it. It’s much more accepting here."

Emma Morgan
Firefighter (Control)

"People don’t always think of the most rational things. People often say things like ‘we have got to go and get our handbag upstairs’, or ‘we’re in our pyjamas, we need to go and get changed’ but it’s important they leave the property.”

Paul Gascoigne
Firefighter (Control)

"I just offered them advice, reassurance and kept them calm. I needed to extract as much information as possible from the caller for my colleagues in Control to relay to the attending fire crews. Where are they in the property? At the front? At the back? Plus monitor the conditions inside the room they are in – is the smoke getting any worse?”

White Watch
Control

"In control you have to be really decisive and make a decision instantly. At home I am the total opposite. Because everything is so fast-paced in control at home I have to switch my brain off which makes it harder for me to make a decision.”

Firefighter Chrissie Fisher

Wholetime

"Anybody can be a firefighter. Anyone can go out there and give it a go. It does take an awful lot of determination and work to get there, but if you don't try then you won't know."

Firefighter Evan Fisher

Wholetime

"I knew I wanted a job with a physical side in which I could help someone . If you've just left university and that approach appeals, then the fire service is a good route to take, especially as you can then go on to progress yourself."​

Firefighter Jo Shippey

Wholetime

"Any management degree could help you progress as a manager in the fire service and having that background has definitely contributed to the person I am. I love being a firefighter and I'm so lucky because I love coming to work every day."

Firefighter Mark Moloney

Wholetime

"Being a firefighter becomes your whole world. I've become Mark the firefighter - it becomes part of your identity. It reflects the fact that you're doing something that makes a difference in the community."

Watch Commander James Thompson

Wholetime

“Working for the fire service has given me great stability, along with a real sense of purpose, for 27 years and I would recommend as a fantastic career choice.”

Crew Commander Rob Cowling

Wholetime

"Every single person, no matter what shape or size you are, has a place within a team. We couldn't have a team of 6ft tall by 6ft wide firefighters who just had brute strength because it just doesn't work like that."

Station Commander Vicky Best

Wholetime
 

"The main thing I enjoy is making a difference. There are occasions when our attendance at an incident really can be the difference between saving someone's home or losing it and even, on occasion, saving someone's life. It's a great feeling when you know you've made a contribution at an incident like that."

Station Commander Simon Thompson

Wholetime

"I've met so many different people and learned so many things from those people - in most jobs, you don't get that opportunity. What I enjoy most is being able to make work enjoyable and fulfilling for other people."

Watch Commander Stocker Standen

Wholetime

"I've managed perfectly fine being in the fire service with dyslexia. I see the simplicity in situations and try not to get bogged down with overcomplicating problems and I think that's one of my strengths."

Watch Commander Graham Morgan

Wholetime

"I'm not a believer in having to be big and strong to be a firefighter. We have people from all different walks of life and everyone has different qualities. As a manager, you pick out people's strengths and use your crew to your advantage"

Watch Commander Trevor Lindsay

Wholetime

"When you ask most people want they want to do in life, they say they want to work in the community and make a difference and the fire service is definitely a place where you have that opportunity to do that. It is down to you to take ideas forward."

Watch Commander Ben Fawcitt

Wholetime

Ben did not initially think of joining the fire service and it was only when a friend enrolled that he started to look into it. He says: "I thought it was a good idea because it was exciting and it ticked a lot of boxes for me."

Station Commander Farsh Raoufi

Wholetime

"I like interacting with people, helping others and solving problems. Joining the fire service seemed a good option to give something back to the community that looked after me when I first came here."

Station Commander Jamie Johnson

Wholetime

"I like the operational side of things, but there's the challenge of managing and developing people and since being a manager, I've really enjoyed the responsibility of doing that."

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Rick Hylton

Wholetime

"I work with a multitude of agencies to join our services together. I never imagined when I joined the fire service I would be spending my time working in these environments and enjoying it just as much as riding a fire engine."

Crew Commander Chris Cox

Control

“It is such a varied role. No two days are ever the same and most importantly, I’m supporting my community.”​

Station Commander Debbie Vickers

Control

"I love feeling that what I do makes a difference to someone and being able to put something back into the community.”

Community Fire Safety Officer Barbara Russell

Community Fire Safety

“It’s a great place to work where there is never a dull moment. I work with a great bunch of people and I believe that as a team we are able to make a real difference.”

Fire Protection Advisor Kate Peacock

Community Fire Safety

“The great thing about my job now is that I’m part time and have flexible working so it’s a good work-life balance. I spend more time with my family and have been able to stay local and enjoy the little things like attending milestones in my daughter’s life.

Fire Protection Advisor Danny Hans

Community Fire Safety

"Just when you think you’ve seen it all, something else comes along and teaches you something new.”

Firefighter Rachel Casbon

On-call

"Everyone I meet in my day job is amazed at what I do in the evenings and weekends. But I have to get my adrenalin from somewhere, as accountancy just doesn’t do it!”

Firefighter Graham Duff

On-call

“I love the fact that I can be doing anything, like playing with my kids in the garden, and then just minutes later you’re in the back of the fire engine because your alerter has gone off and you’ve rushed to the fire station."

Business Support Officer Rosalind Innes

Support

"Although I’m not on the frontline, I’m still an important part of the work the fire service does so we have to make sure the team delivers.”

Head of Business Support, Contracts and Procurement Tracey Stradling

Support

"It’s been exciting to get involved in national projects, network at professional seminars outside the fire service and for me, every day there is something to learn and improve.”

Business Process Management Developer James Thompson

Support

"My managers have always encouraged the development of personal and professional skills that are role specific but also transferable. I feel valued and empowered, which led me to be more driven, look for new responsibilities and think longer term about my career.”