Recruitment & volunteering

Retained firefighters are contracted for two hours per week to attend training sessions, as well as additional hours per week to be available on-call to attend emergency call-outs and to deliver community safety work.

You can combine this with doing another job. However, retained firefighters must live no further than five minutes travel time from their local fire station and must be able to give the level of availability required.

• Find the location and contact details of your local fire station here.

Being a firefighter is an inspiring job.

You will perform essential services for your community and have the chance to develop experience and skills in team working, management and leadership through a variety of training opportunities.

Furthermore, you will be paid for any emergency incidents you are called to and for your involvement in community safety activities.

Becoming a retained firefighter is a fulfilling way to add extra skills and money to your life, as well as a sense of achievement in providing an invaluable service to your own community.

Training courses for new retained firefighters are run two or three times per year and trainees are drawn from a pool of successful candidates, based on the fire stations that have vacancies at that time. 

If you have the flexibility and commitment we’re looking for, and would like more information, please contact us or visit your local fire station.

• Telephone: 01670 621126
• Email: fire.recruitment@northumberland.gov.uk 

If you would like to apply to be a retained duty fire fighter, then please click here to download a copy of the application form. 

• retained firefighter application form
• firefighter ability tests – preparation and practice booklet
• firefighter interview – preparation guidance
• preparatory fitness programme

As well as taking and responding to 999 calls, emergency control room personnel are responsible for:

• receiving emergency and non-emergency calls from a range of sources, including out-of-hours calls made to both the fire service and county council
• mobilising resources to emergency incidents, for instance, firefighters on appliances, supervisory officers and specialist units
• maintaining communication with fire crews and officers during incidents
• mobilising additional resources and equipment to incidents, as required
• maintaining information on operational resources
• liaising with other emergency/non-emergency agencies e.g. police, ambulance or the environment agency

• All vacancies are advertised centrally by Northumberland County Council.

We currently employ support staff in a range of different roles, including:

• clerical and administrative
• human resources
• technical

Where can I find out about support staff vacancies?

• All vacancies are advertised centrally by Northumberland County Council.

There are many benefits to becoming a volunteer, including opportunities to:

• gain new experience
• build your CV
• develop and share new skills
• help your community
• become a valued member of the team
• choose convenient days and times to work
• travel expenses are reimbursed
• free lunch (at our headquarters canteen, or lunch expenses for up to £5 when working more than four hours are reimbursed)

The volunteering scheme provides many benefits to the individuals, but also the volunteers themselves give the fire and rescue service just as much back.

Here are just some of the things our volunteers contribute:

• the value of their time
• support to the service team as it serves and engages with the community
• individual skills, experiences and knowledge which help to strengthen effectiveness
• greater diversity within the service, thus a greater representation of the community
• they help the service to deliver the best possible support to Northumberland
• they help make Northumberland safer and stronger

If you would like to learn more about how to become a volunteer, please contact us:

• Online: complete our online form
• Email: NFRSvolunteering@northumberland.gov.uk