Fire service calls on residents to join as on-call firefighters

17/04/2026

Residents across Cambridgeshire are being urged to step forward as on-call firefighters, as local fire stations face ongoing challenges in maintaining emergency response cover.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service is calling on people who live or work close to a fire station to consider joining their local crew and helping respond to emergencies alongside their existing commitments.

Group Commander Paul Oliver, head of the on-call area of the Service, said: “Almost every fire station in Cambridgeshire relies on on-call firefighters from their local community to respond to emergencies, whether that’s fires, road traffic collisions, flooding or assisting other emergency services. Without that support, we risk not having a fire engine available when it’s needed most.

“We are looking for people from all walks of life to join us. You don’t need previous experience, just commitment, reliability and a willingness to learn. The role is flexible and can fit around work, family life or study.

“On-call firefighters live and work within their communities and respond when needed, carrying a pager that alerts them to incidents. They then have five minutes to get to the station and crew the fire engine.

“To ensure we can provide cover throughout the week, we typically need around 12 firefighters at each station, with individuals offering around 50 hours of availability. This can be spread across the week and fitted around other commitments.

“Being an on-call firefighter is incredibly rewarding. You could be helping someone on the worst day of their life, making a real difference when it matters most.

“In return, firefighters are paid for incidents and training, receive an annual retaining fee, and benefit from development opportunities, access to station gyms and a health care plan. There are also opportunities to take on additional responsibilities over time, such as driving fire engines.”

Anyone who lives or works within five minutes of a fire station is encouraged to find out more by visiting the Careers section. Opportunities are available at stations across the county, with a particular need for weekday daytime availability.