WILTSHIRE Fire and Rescue Service is encouraging more people to become an on-call firefighter in Bradford on Avon by attending a recruitment evening on Monday.

On-call firefighters provide fire cover for the town and its surrounding villages by responding to a pager when a 999 call is made and cover is needed at all times.

While contracted hours may vary, on-call personnel must be able to make themselves available for 48-120 hours per week and between them, each fire station team will provide cover for weekdays, evening, nights and weekends.

Station Manager Andy Green said: “The easiest way to see if being a firefighter is for you is to visit the fire station and have a chat with the crew. With this open evening, we’re inviting potential recruits to come along, take a look around, and find out more about what’s involved.”

He added: “On-call firefighters receive the same training and development as wholetime colleagues, and can be called to all manner of emergencies, including fires, road traffic collisions, animal rescues and flooding. The pay does vary, depending on how much cover you give, but it is fantastically rewarding to be a part of your community and to be in a position to help people.”

In order to be on-call, an individual must be able to respond to the fire station in around five minutes once a pager goes off.

The recruitment evening starts at 7pm at the fire station in the town.

If you are unable to attend but are still interested in the role, visit www.wiltsfire.gov.uk/workingforus.