A family commitment to keeping communities safe

18/09/2026

The term "family" is often used to describe the close bonds shared by firefighters, however for some that description is more than just a figure of speech.

Alex Gould, who also works in the Service's Control room, recently joined Thorney Fire Station as an on-call firefighter, following in her father's footsteps. Phil has been a long-standing member of the station and is proud to now be serving alongside his daughter.

The father-daughter duo are not the only members of the Gould family supporting the Service. Alex's sister, Emily Gould, has also recently joined the Service's Control room team.

The Gould family's commitment to their community however doesn't stop there. Phil's brother, Anthony Gould, serves as Chief Fire Officer for Peterborough Volunteer Fire Brigade, while Anthony's son, Jacob Gould, is a wholetime firefighter for the Service.

Collectively, the Gould family represents a remarkable tradition of public service. That dedication was recently demonstrated during the response to the wildfire at Holme Fen, one of the most significant incidents in this county for many years. Every member of the Gould family currently serving within the Service played a role in supporting the response to the major incident whether on the frontline or behind the scenes in Control.

On what it was like to respond alongside her dad, Alex said: 'Responding alongside my dad at Thorney has been so much fun! Growing up Dad had always been in the fire service so being able to experience my first shout alongside him was a unique experience. I'm very lucky to be able to learn from him and the others at Thorney who have been incredibly welcoming! My first working job was made even better by the fact that Emily was the one to mobilise us'

The Gould's family story highlights the wide range of opportunities within the Service, from being a wholetime or on-call firefighter to emergency call handling.

If their story has inspired you to be the first in your family, or join relatives already in the role, check out our careers section to see how you can be a part of helping your community.