Testing scenarios for on-call firefighters

02/11/2026

On-call firefighters have been testing their skills this month with different training scenarios.

As part of their regular weekly training (known as drill nights), the crews at Thorney and Ely set up different tasks to help maintain their range of skills.

The crews set up scenarios in different parts of the station and drill yard. At Ely, new firefighters that have recently joined the station were practicing pitching a large ladder, which requires four people to do safely.

The crew at Thorney mocked up an exercise involving hazardous materials and heavy smoke, requiring firefighters to wear breathing apparatus to safely search the building and extinguish a fire, while also looking for any casualties.

Training doesn’t always take place at stations, however.

Thorney firefighters also took part in a unique and challenging training exercise focusing on confined space. To help create a realistic and unfamiliar environment, Play2Day Wisbech, a local children’s soft play premises, hosted the crew. Firefighters wore full breathing apparatus and had obscured vision within their masks to simulate smoke-filled conditions. Crews were then tasked with navigating the obstacle course, manoeuvring through confined spaces, and locating and extricating training casualties.

A fire service spokesperson said: “The soft play structure provided an excellent setting to test firefighters' ability to work through tight, restricted spaces while remaining calm under pressure. Thank you to Play2Day Wisbech for hosting us.”

Group Commander Paul Oliver, the Service’s head of on-call, said: “Being an on-call firefighter is a very exciting role. Our crews take part in all kinds of training to help maintain their skills to keep them ready to respond to emergencies, whether its station based drills or larger exercises with other stations involving more complex scenarios. It’s a great way to learn new skills and take on a challenge.

“We are always looking to recruit more local people that can join stations as on-call firefighters. We’d urge anyone living close to one of our on-call stations and can respond to emergencies around other commitments, to visit our website to find out more about joining.”

Find our more about being an on-call firefighter in our Careers section.