Paul

Why join the fire service?

My background was in engineering, and I spent a lot of time stuck behind a desk. That wasn’t really for me. I wanted something a bit more challenging, a bit more active. Plus I wanted a job where I could do something constructive for the community. A career as a firefighter seemed to tick all the right boxes.

Were you worried about the fitness requirements?

Funnily enough, I was almost too fit to join. I used to work out quite a lot but the role requires stamina not bulk. It’s not about how strong you are; it’s about how strong the team is. If you have to lift something heavy, like a ladder, you don’t do it in isolation. You have two or three other people out there helping you.

What was your first ‘shout’ like?

Mine was an RTC (Road Traffic Collision) on Boxing Day. There were cars everywhere. It looked like carnage but only one of the cars had people trapped inside it. Two of them had quite severe injuries though, and it came as quite a shock. But that’s when your training kicks in. You always have experienced people around you. And one of the best bits of advice they give you is to try to remain calm. People are relying on you; so the more focused you are, the better.

What about career development?

It’s up to the individual really. If you want to move up you can. And there are loads of opportunities to develop new skills. I’ve already qualified as a rope access instructor and a trauma technician, and I’m now looking to develop my leadership skills as a Crew Manager. People looked out for me when I first joined, now I can do the same for the probationary firefighters on my watch.

Ultimately, I’d like to move off the operational side and perhaps focus on developing relationships with the community full-time. But many people decide to stay as firefighters for the whole of their career. And, to be honest, their experience is invaluable.

How would you sell the role of a firefighter?

It’s a great job. In fact, it’s more than that – it’s a real long-term career. You never know what you’ll be called to next, which makes life pretty exciting. I don’t want to use the cliché ‘everyday is different’, but it is.