The role of the Fire Service has changed considerably in the last five years, and the role within the community has had to change to reflect the new demands made on the Service.

The 'New Look' Firefighter is not an individual who is focused on the traditionally perceived role of attending Emergency Incidents and the physical requirements to achieve that. The Firefighter is now required to be even more adaptable than previously. Yes, the new look Firefighter still fulfils the traditional role of dealing with fires in all types of premises and a variety of Special Service Calls, which include incidents such as entrapment of persons at road traffic collisions, chemical emergencies, flooding and other natural disasters. But, the new look Firefighter is also able to switch from this reactive role to a more preventative role, which involves the education of our communities about the hazards presented by fire.

While you might start as a Firefighter, there are plenty of opportunities for career development if you want it, and how quickly you progress will depend upon you.

Key Objectives

The objectives of a modern Fire and Rescue Service are, to build a safer society by working in partnership with others, and to reduce death, injury, damage to property and the environment from fire and other emergencies.

Dealing with emergencies

Technology obviously plays a major role in helping firefighters to tackle emergencies as efficiently and effectively as possible. For example, computers in control rooms store street plans, details of high-risk buildings and the latest information on hazardous materials. This ensures that as soon as an emergency call is received - whether a fire, chemical spillage or road traffic collision - controllers can immediately assess what appliances are required to attend. On attending a fire, the Firefighters have to make a very quick assessment of the situation - as materials used in homes and factories change, so does the way the fire is tackled. A house fire may require two appliances whereas a commercial or factory fire may involve several more appliances as well as requiring thousands of litres of water and foam, plus the use of specialist equipment.

There is also the hazard of toxic fumes and heavy smoke, which can be generated from modern materials - for example foam-filled furniture. This makes tackling a fire much more difficult and Firefighters always go fully protected with equipment such as breathing apparatus as well as personal radio sets to keep them in contact with colleagues at the scene, or back at HQ. Firefighters will also have a range of other equipment at their disposal depending on the incident to which they have been called; cutting and lifting gear to deal with traffic collisions; protective suits for use at chemical spills and thermal imaging cameras to help locate victims in smoke filled rooms.

Fire Safety - a key area of work.

Specialist training for officers involved in fire safety is provided at the National Fire Service College in Gloucestershire and with individual Services. Based on the study of Fire Engineering, there is also the opportunity to study other relevant academic qualifications, such as the membership of the Institution of Fire Engineers. Training in fire safety is critical to much of the day-to-day work of a Firefighter. Factories, offices, shops, hotels, boarding houses and railway premises are all required to comply with certain fire precaution measures, which include providing adequate means of escape. It is the job of the Fire Service to ensure that these requirements are being followed and effectively maintained. We also provide specialist fire protection advice to local authorities responsible for licensing buildings such as theatres, cinemas, clubs and sports grounds. Hospitals, schools, nursing homes and many other institutions also need professional advice regarding fire safety.

Another important area of work is promoting fire safety through education and publicity to the general public. Close links between individual stations and their communities are vital in this, and building these gives Firefighters the opportunity to take part in all sorts of events and activities that you might not have imagined could count as "work"!

When applying to become a Firefighter there are various duty systems available: -

Becoming a Firefighter.

The new National Firefighter Selection Tests will be used to select all new operational Firefighters. This will include Shift, Day-Crewed and Retained personnel. There will be no difference in recruitment processes, procedures or standards. See our Firefighter Recruitment Page for more details.

Firefighters come from all walks of life; some are school leavers, some have degrees and others are trained in other professions.

As a Firefighter there is much involvement with the public and other agencies such as the Police, Ambulance Service and Local Authorities.

The Fire Service has identified Personal Qualities and Attributes that are required for the "New Look" Firefighter.

Personal Qualities and Attributes (PQA).

• A Commitment to Diversity & Integrity.
  To be someone who understands and respects diversity and adopts a fair and ethical approach to everyone.
• Change.
  To be someone who is open to change and actively seeks to support it.
• Confidence and Resilience.
  To be confident and resilient - even in highly challenging situations.
• Working with Others.
  To be someone who can work easily with others - both within the Fire & Rescue Service and in the community.
• Communicate.
  To communicate effectively - both verbally and in writing.
• Personal Development.
  Be someone who is committed to personal development - for yourself and others.
• Practical Abilities.
  Be practical and able to solve problems in a logical, safe and systematic way.
• Awareness.
  You should have a good level of awareness to be able to respond to a rapidly changing environment. Safety is always of paramount importance.
• Excellence.
  Candidates should be capable of achieving and maintaining standards of excellence.