Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue service are encouraging people who have a passion for helping their local community to apply to become on-call firefighters.

Who can apply?

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service says it employs people from all walks of life, ranging from self-employed tradespeople and stay-at-home parents to employees of small businesses and large, well-known organisations.

The service added: "We are keen to ensure that our workforce reflects the local communities we work in and so welcome enquiries from all."

You must:

• live or work no more than five minutes from your nearest station
• be at least 18 years old at the start of employment, but you can apply before then. There is no maximum age limit for applications
• have no unspent criminal convictions at the time you start employment. Unspent criminal convictions at the time of application can be discussed at the first contact meeting
• have the right to work in the UK
• be able to drive at the start of employment but you can apply before you have a licence
• have good eyesight to carry out your role safely. If you're unsure that you meet the visual standards, you can book an appointment with your optician, using this visual standards checklist. As part of the application process, you'll do a LogMAR test which assesses visual performance in low contrast conditions
• have a good level of strength and fitness. Find out more about the fitness requirements
• have a good grasp of maths and English. You do not need any formal qualifications to apply but you will be tested on this during the application process.

What does being an on-call firefighter involve?

Working as an on-call firefighter means being involved in a wide range of activities in your local area, from responding to emergency calls to carrying out work in local communities to support their needs or providing prevention advice to help keep them safe.

In return, the fire service can offer flexibility around study, work, and family commitments, training and development opportunities and a chance to make a difference in your local community.

Working in the fire service means you become part of a close-knit team, earn extra money, and receive full and ongoing training so you develop a broad range of transferable work and life skills.

Call-outs vary across stations. Some stations respond to over 800 a year, others less than 50. On average, on-call firefighters are paged two-three times a week for a couple of hours at a time, during the day, evenings and weekends.

How do I apply?

You can apply for an on-call firefighter role on the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service website.