An appeal has gone out for more “on call” firefighters across Shropshire including the Minsterley and Bishops Castle areas. “Giving something back to the community” is what inspires most firefighters, said Bishops Castle Watch Manager Tracey Magill, an on call firefighter with 30 years’ experience, who is a self-employed oak floor fitter.
While Minsterley Watch Manager Chris Lloyd-Gwilliam, who followed in his father’s footsteps to become a firefighter, said: “It is interesting and a bit different and gives you more life skills and the opportunity to do something that you wouldn’t normally get to do in your normal working life.”
A total of 80 per cent of firefighters in Shropshire are “on call” which means they are called out in an emergency from their home or workplace to deal with road traffic collisions, property fires, grass fires, animal rescues and flooding incidents. Firefighters train regularly and are highly skilled.
They must live within five minutes of their local fire station and be physically fit. Retained Support Officer Mel Kapitanec said there was a constant demand to recruit more firefighters as people left through retirement or for employment reasons.
With 13 firefighters at Minsterley station and 11 at Bishops Castle, there was a need to recruit more especially for daytime cover. Men and women interested in joining the brigade should request an application pack.
