Derbyshire fire service to recruit next generation of firefighters

The organisation will begin advertising the full-time posts on Wednesday – ending a five-year recruitment freeze.

Terry McDermott, deputy chief fire officer at DFRS, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for people of Derbyshire to join a high performing and excellent service.

“The role of a modern firefigher is extremely varied.

“Our firefighters train to respond to a diverse range of incidents – fires, road traffic collisions, large animal rescue and water rescue incidents – and also spend a growing amount of time engaging with and educating our communities to help prevent emergency incidents occurring.”

Government cuts mean DFRS has made more than £5.6million of savings since 2011.

The organisation still needs to save a further £4m by 2018/19.

In October 2013, DFRS announced plans to lose 78 full-time firefighters by 2022 through natural wastage.

A DFRS spokesman said: “No firefighters have been made redundant and there are no plans to do so in the future.

“Since we last recruited some five years ago, natural turnover means that we have to recruit new firefighters in order to maintain our normal fire cover provision.”

For more information and to apply to be a firefighter, visit the DFRS website between Wednesday and Tuesday, July 14.

Applicants can join a live Twitter and Facebook question and answer session from 5.30pm until 7.30pm on Thursday.