An on-call firefighter is calling on others to follow in her footsteps as a recruitment drive gets underway in Ayrshire.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS)is looking for on-call firefighters to serve and protect their local communities.
The SFRS currently have vacancies all across Ayrshire, and are particularly looking to fill roles at Girvan and Colmonell community fire stations, where 43-year-old mum-of-four Elizabeth Jenkins is based.
Elizabeth, who moved to Ayrshire eight years ago with farmer husband Tom, juggles life as a busy working mum and hopes to inspire others to join up to respond to emergencies at a moment’s notice.
She said: “It is definitely a great job if you enjoy being active, serving your community, meeting new people, learning new skills, being part of a team and can work under pressure.
“I really enjoy working with the public and going into schools to hopefully inspire the next generation of firefighters.
“It’s great to see the joy on the primary school kids faces when we visit. It’s also very rewarding to see the relief on people’s faces when we arrive and also the feeling that we have helped make someone feel safe in their home.”
On-call firefighters, who are paid a retainer fee, commit to providing a set number of hours cover each month and attend a three-hour training night once a week to maintain and develop their skills.
Station commander Laura McIntyre, who is based at Cumnock community fire station and oversees on-call recruitment for the area, said: “We’re really looking for people to step forward and consider a career as an on-call firefighter.
“It would be great to see people stepping forward and provide a service for the community by the community.”
Area commander Ian McMeekin, SFRS local senior officer for Ayrshire, said the organisation is working to support recruitment which “can be challenging within rural and remote communities” and is “urging people from all walks of life” to apply.
Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, said she knows the value small communities place on on-call firefighters.
She added: “In many instances, those firefighters are already at the heart of communities in other employed roles.
“Anyone who wants to contribute to the overall safety and wellbeing of their community should seriously consider a rewarding role within the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service such as this.”
Find out more about the on-call firefighter role and current vacancies at www.firescotland.gov.uk/careers/on-call/
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