Fire service misses its annual target for recruiting on-call firefighters

THE availability of on-call firefighters in Nottinghamshire has dropped due to low recruitment.

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Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service has missed its annual target this year, with on-call firefighter availability averaging 83.8% across the county - slightly below the 85% target.

On-call “retained” firefighters are part-time firefighters who typically work and live close to a station and can answer emergencies quickly on an on-call basis. They are seen as a vital part of emergency cover, particularly in more rural areas.

The figures were discussed at the Nottinghamshire and City of Nottingham Fire and Rescue Authority meeting on Friday.

Councillor Nick Raine (Lab) raised the issue of on-call firefighters in Southwell, saying they had experienced “problems” with recruiting and retaining them in certain places.