The role of a wholetime firefighter

A career that makes a difference 

Being a wholetime firefighter is more than responding to emergencies - it’s about protecting communities, preventing harm and being a role model. As a wholetime firefighter with Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, you’ll be part of a dedicated team working to Prevent, Protect, and Respond when people need you most. 

What does a wholetime firefighter do? 

Prevent: Firefighting isn’t just about emergencies - it’s about stopping them from happening in the first place. You’ll play a key role in: 

• Educating schools, businesses, and residents about fire safety
• Carrying out home fire safety visits, fitting smoke alarms, and giving life-saving advice
• Supporting community events, engaging with young people, and promoting safety initiatives. 

Protect: Keeping people safe means reducing risks before they turn into emergencies. You’ll work with businesses and public spaces to: 

• Help ensure buildings comply with fire safety laws
• Provide guidance on fire risk assessments
• Raise awareness of fire prevention strategies to protect the public. 

Respond: When an emergency happens, you’ll be ready. Firefighters respond to a wide range of incidents, including: 

• Fires in homes, businesses, and open spaces
• Road traffic collisions, providing life-saving rescue work
• Flooding, hazardous materials, and rescues from water, heights, and confined spaces
• Supporting partner agencies in major incidents. 

Forget the stereotypes – this could be you!

Forget what you think a firefighter should look like. If you have the commitment, determination, and desire to help others, we’ll give you the training and support you need. 

You don’t need to be the strongest or the fastest—you just need the right mindset and a willingness to learn. If you’re ready for a challenge and want to make a real difference, you can find your purpose here. 

A career with progression

A firefighter’s role evolves with experience. From new recruit to fully competent firefighter and future opportunities in leadership, training or specialist rescue teams - your career can grow in ways you never expected. 

What you need to know 

Most of our wholetime fire stations have watches that work two day shifts (8am-6pm), followed by two night shifts (6pm-8am), then four days off.

Some stations operate different crewing models—details will be provided during the process.

Additional training days will be planned outside your usual shifts.