Women interested in a career as on call firefighters’ attended a successful taster session at Albrighton Fire Station.
One sent in an application form immediately after the event attended by six women from across the county.
During the session they toured the fire station, checked out the equipment aboard fire appliances, tried on fire kit and experienced wearing breathing apparatus under instruction from the Albrighton crew.
The visitors also talked to women firefighters which now total 23 in Shropshire.
But Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service want to encourage more to join what is often seen as a male career, said Natalie Parkinson, the service’s Equality and Diversity Officer.
“It is a career that women generally just don’t consider. But there are 23 women firefighters already working in the county.
“These include eight full time based at Shrewsbury, Telford and Wellington fire stations and 15 on call from the county’s rural stations.
“We provide training, support, promotion opportunities, excellent pay and conditions of service. If you want a rewarding career that is a little bit different then firefighting could be the job for you,” Natalie added.
A total of 80 per cent of Shropshire’s 484 firefighters are “on call” and turn out in an emergency to protect their local communities.
They come from all walks of life and leave their home or workplace to answer emergency calls.
Firefighters are physically fit and highly trained and must live within five minutes of one of Shropshire’s 23 fire stations.
They attend weekly training sessions to keep their skills up to date and are called out to deal with fires, floods, road traffic crashes, animal rescues, building collapses and any other major incidents.
Contact Natalie.parkinson@shropshirefire.gov.uk on 01743 260236 for more information about what the job entails or visit the careers section at www.shropshirefire.gov.uk and fill in a questionnaire.
More taster sessions are planned for 2017.
Follow the county fire service on facebook and twitter.
