Appeal for on-call fire recruits at Wooler Fire Station in Northumberland

The station currently has nine crew but would ideally like to have a full complement of 12 to ensure there is sufficient cover.

In particular, Wooler needs on call (retained) firefighters who are available for day-time cover.

It is a situation mirrored across north Northumberland with vacancies in Alnwick, Berwick, Amble, Belford and Seahouses.

That is why local businesses are being asked to do their bit by agreeing to release staff from their duties when emergency calls.

Tony Simpson of Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service said: “We think there are a number of benefits for businesses to release their staff for call-outs.

“It obviously helps us but we’d like to think it helps the businesses too through the training the crew receive and the skills they pick up.

“That could be anything from first aid at work, trauma care, defibrillator use, having an HGV certificate and health and risk assessments to other assets such as social skills, teamwork and self-discipline.”

Among the Wooler crew who have employment outside of their firefighting duties is watch manager Cindy Crossman, who runs a takeaway business in the town.

She said: “I was actually in a swimming pool and told someone I was looking for a challenge so I came along for a couple of nights and 20 years later I’m still here.

“It’s a big commitment and I wouldn’t want to put anyone under the illusion that it’s easy but you might only average one call-out a week and we have a good bunch of people on the crew.”

Driver Dave Lightfoot combines his on-call duties at Wooler with those of being a full-time firefighter at Pegswood and helping to run The Angel Inn.

“It’s fabulous, I love it,” he said. “I do 90 hours a week at Wooler and 48 at Pegswood but you get a real sense of doing something good for the community.

“Fortunately, I’m behind the scenes at the pub so I’m available even when I’m there.”

Georgia Thompson, meanwhile, lives in Wooler but works in Belford so is attached to both fire stations, while Joshua Nicholson is released from his duties at Glendale Engineering when needed.

Michael Stanwix, along with Georgia, came through the ranks of the Wooler Young Firefighters’ Association.

Now in his fourth year as a crew member, the joiner and youth worker, said: “It’s helped to develop me as a person.

“I had pretty low confidence when I first joined but it’s changed my outlook on life. I’d encourage anyone to think about joining.”

On-call firefighters are contracted to respond to emergency calls within their local area for 90 hours per week. They must also attend a two-hour training session per week and live or work within eight minutes of the station.To find out more, call 01670 621126 or email: [email protected]