Antrim fire station recruiting for retained firefighters
THE Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service has launched a major recruitment drive for Retained (part-time) Firefighters in Antrim.
The NIFRS is recruting for 37 Fire Stations across Northern Ireland and is encouraging more females and those from ethnic minority backgrounds to apply.
NIFRS wants to recruit people who live and work within a five minute radius of Antrim Fire Station to become Retained Firefighters and help protect their local community.
Retained Firefighters respond to emergency incidents including fires, road traffic collisions and other specialist service calls such as chemical spills, collapsed buildings and other types of rescues.
They also play a crucial role in providing safety advice and assistance in their local community.
Gary Thompson, Northern Area Commander, Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service, said: “Simply put, NIFRS could not operate without our Retained Firefighters as they provide the emergency fire & rescue services to the communities in which they live and work.
“Retained Firefighters make up over half the total number of Firefighters in Northern Ireland and in this recruitment campaign we are encouraging more females and those from ethnic minority backgrounds to consider this as a viable career option.
“We currently have 21 Retained Female Firefighters and Retained Firefighters from a variety of ethnic minority backgrounds and we are keen to see more females and ethnic minority groups applying.
“It is an extremely rewarding and interesting job and Retained Firefighters must be able to quickly respond to emergency call outs by making their way to their local Fire Station within 5 minutes, where they will meet the rest of their Crew.
“Local employers have an equally important role to play in the success of the Retained Firefighter system by allowing their employees to become Retained Firefighters. Hundreds of local employers across Northern Ireland employ Retained Firefighters, benefiting by having someone on site professionally trained to respond to a range of emergency incidents and who can advise on fire safety in their own business. NIFRS greatly appreciates the support of local employers in helping provide the best possible fire and rescue service.
“Retained Firefighters are paid an attractive monthly retaining fee, plus drill night attendance, emergency call out fees, as well as annual holiday leave. Retained Firefighters are trained to the highest standards and throughout their careers attend a weekly drill night (2 hours per week) to receive continuous safety and operational training ensuring we have the most highly skilled Firefighters to help protect our local communities.”
NIFRS is an equal opportunities employer and looks forward to receiving applications from men and women from all sections of the community who are interested in becoming a Retained Firefighter in their area.
Fire Stations will be holding information nights to give interested applicants more information on the recruitment process and what the job entails.
Antrim Fire Station information nights will be held on Wednesday, February 13 from 7pm to 9pm and Saturday, February 16 from 10am to 2pm.
Application Packs are available from: Antrim Fire Station, 18-22 Castle Street, Wednesday nights 7pm to 9pm; Antrim Forum Leisure Centre, Lough Road; Antrim Library, 10 Railway Street; Antrim Health Centre, 32 Station Road; Glengormley District Headquarters, 165 Church Road Glengormley.
The NIFRS website has further details on the recruitment process and application forms can also be downloaded from www.nifrs.org or you can contact NIFRS Northern Area Headquarters on 028 2564 3370.
Closing date for applications is Friday, March 8 at 3pm.
Eleven Fire Stations across Northern Area Command are now recruiting for Retained Firefighters – Kilrea, Carnlough, Cushendall, Portstewart, Portrush, Ballymoney, Glengormley, Antrim, Ballyclare, Carrickfergus and Whitehead.
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Weather for Antrim
Friday 24 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 9 C to 16 C
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