Part of the fire family - nine new Norfolk recruits

Nine new on-call firefighters have been welcomed into Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service (NFRS) - including the fifth member of the same family to join the service.    

George Powell, 18, who will be based at Diss Fire Station, joins his older brothers Harry and Joe, his dad Robert and his sister-in-law Kayleigh at NFRS after completing the initial two-week training course to become an on-call fire fighter.    

George said: "I started in at Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service at a young age - I joined Diss Fire Cadets when I was 14. I have always been interested in it - watching my family enjoy being in the service made me want to join.   

"I am trying out being on-call at the moment and will see how it goes before I decide if I want to apply for a wholetime career in the fire service."  

His dad Robert, who has worked for NFRS for 30 years, mostly as a wholetime fire fighter but who is now on-call watch manager at Diss, said: "This is a really proud day for me, to have my third son join NFRS and for my daughter-in-law to be in the service too.  

"My wife is also very proud and has been really supportive of us over the years. At one time Harry, Joe and I were all on-call firefighters at Diss, which has an impact on your family life. If we got an emergency call we would all disappear together so having a supportive family is important for on-call firefighters."  

The Powells are one of a number of families who have several members working for NFRS.  

Kayleigh was also a Fire Cadet in Wymondham, before working in Fire Control and is now as a fire investigation and protection officer. She said: "We do talk about work a lot. But it's great, we are a family and then the fire service is also like a big family."  

Following this latest two week on-call training course, the service also welcomes FF Helen Burns, who will be based at King's Lynn North Fire Station, FF Bryce Cochrane (East Harling), FF George Powell (Diss), FF Callum Hunt (Watton), FF Callum Marshall-Wyer (Watton), FF Tom Mitchell (North Earlham), FF Stuart Sayer (King's Lynn), FF Gavin Sheridan (Sheringham) and FF Leon Snitch (Acle).   

Because Norfolk is a large and mostly rural county, 39 of our 42 fire stations rely on on-call firefighters to help protect their local community. Those who work on-call provide cover when required to respond to fire and emergency calls. It is a paid role, where firefighters respond from their homes or workplaces, rather than from a fire station. They need to live or work within five minutes travelling distance from their on-call fire station during the hours they sign up to as being available. 

It's perfect for people interested in giving something back to their community, who are keen on fitness and learning a whole range of new skills which are transferable to other workplaces. On-call firefighters carry out the role on top of another job and their careers are wide-ranging. In among our current on-call crews are a fitness instructor, an equestrian centre owner, a chef, a plumber, a leisure centre manager, a landscape gardener, a chimney sweep an IT professional and a financial advisor.  

Cllr Margaret Dewsbury, Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnerships at Norfolk County Council, said: "I would like to welcome our new on-call firefighters and thank them for the commitment they have shown to the people of this county by completing their training and taking on this important role.    

"I would also like to thank their employers, who are helping everyone in our communities by releasing their staff to serve as on-call firefighters."   

The latest on-call firefighters have spent the last two weeks doing their initial training course at our specialist Bowthorpe centre and will now book on duty in their local community to continue their training over the next couple of years to become fully competent firefighters.    

To find out more about becoming an on-call firefighter, the Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service website has information both for those interested in the role and their employers www.norfolk.gov.uk/oncall.