Laura

Why join the fire service?

Although I enjoyed my previous job, it wasn’t something I could see myself doing long-term. That’s why the fire service was so attractive. I knew that, if I made it through the application process, I could look forward to a long and rewarding career.

How did you feel when you got your first ‘shout’?

Pretty excited to be honest – it was a chance to put all my training into practice. The incident itself was a car fire. As we got close to it, I thought the nerves might kick in. But I surprised myself by staying fairly calm. I think it helped that everyone around me was so focused and unflustered. We were there to do a job, and we did it.

What do you do in-between incidents?

We do a lot of training, which includes practical work as well as time in the lecture room. We often get new pieces of equipment too, so we have to learn how to use them safely before we can take them out into the field. There’s very little ‘downtime’. If we’re not sharpening our skills in the station we’re out in the community, carrying out Home Fire Risk Assessments or visiting schools.

Describe one of your most memorable incidents.

My first Breathing Apparatus search was pretty memorable. We had to go into a smoke-logged Victorian Building, which was set over four floors. You couldn’t see much and there were many obstacles to overcome, including plenty of holes in the floor. It was a long way down if you put your foot in one of those! But we all looked out for each other, and it felt like a job well done once we’d completed the search.

What’s the culture like within a station? Friendly? Lots of banter?

My Watch is very friendly; we have a good laugh. Obviously there aren’t that many females in the service, but I’m not treated differently to anyone else. We work well together and stick up for one another. I guess some people may find the idea of joining a team who’ve been together a while a bit intimidating. But I’ve worked in a few different stations now, and they’ve all gone out of their way to make me feel welcome.

Laura

“I’ve worked in a few different stations now, and they’ve all gone out of their way to make me feel welcome.”