Page contents
- What is an On-Call Firefighter?
- Eligibility
- Do you live near to an On-Call Fire station?
- Your working week
- Training
- Apply now
What is an On-Call Firefighter?
Working as a firefighter in an on-call capacity requires dedicated people who give above and beyond to protect their local community.
As an On-Call Firefighter, you can have other commitments or a full-time job outside the fire service while still being available to respond to emergency calls in your local area when needed.
- You will play a varied role in supporting your community by: responding to fires, road traffic collisions, flooding and other emergencies.
- Delivering community fire safety advice by visiting schools, youth clubs and other organisations
- Other duties including fire hydrant inspections, equipment maintenance and testing and station routines.
When responding to emergencies, you'll receive a combination of payments, including a regular retainer fee, a fee for each call-out, and an hourly rate for time spent on duty. Plus, there are growing opportunities to take on additional duties and earn more.
Eligibility
In addition to the eligibility to join Surrey Fire and Rescue Service criteria you must also
- Be able respond within four or seven minutes (depending on what station you join) of an alarm, on foot or by vehicle at normal road speeds to your local On-Call Fire Station
- You'll need to be available to respond for at least 54 hours per week. You can find out more about this under the 'Your working week' section.
- You must be 18 years old to join the service
- You must possess a valid manual driving license.
Do you live near to an On-Call Fire station?
It is vital that you live with the 'turn in time' of the On-Call fire station you wish to join. Use the links below to find out.
| Map Location | Address | Training evening |
|---|---|---|
| Chobham map | Bagshot Road, Chobham | Thursday 7pm to 10pm |
| Cranleigh map | Dewlands Lane, Cranleigh | Thursday 7pm to 10pm |
| Dunsfold map | Binhams Meadow, Dunsfold | Tuesday 7pm to 10pm |
| Godalming map | Bridge Road, Godalming | Tuesday 7pm to 10pm |
| Gomshall map | Goose Green, Gomshall | Tuesday 7pm to 10pm |
| Guildford map | Ladymead, Guildford | Tuesday 7pm to 10pm |
| Haslemere map | West Street, Haslemere | Tuesday 6.30pm to 9.30pm |
| Lingfield map | Saxby's Lane, Lingfield | Monday 7pm to 10pm |
| Oxted map | Potters Sandpit, Oxted | Thursday 7pm to 10pm |
| Walton map | Hersham Road, Walton-on-Thames | Thursday 7pm to 10pm |
Your working week
There is no typical working week for an On-Call Firefighter. During the time that you are 'on-call' it is essential that you remain within the allocated time to reach the station (this is specific to each station) should you be required to respond to an emergency.
Whilst being available as an On-Call Firefighter you can go about your normal life , but if your pager sounds, you will be expected to drop what you are doing and get to the station within a specified time, at normal road speeds.
Whilst there is a minimum hours required you decide what hours you can provide cover for and when you are available.
As we are unable to predict when you will be called out you need to be flexible. Ideally you will be able to provide cover on a regular basis either from your home or place of work.
Training
On-Call Firefighters have the same training as Wholetime firefighters. Training continues throughout your career as a firefighter and we are committed to helping you grow and achieve. The initial training for becoming an On-Call Firefighter is split in to the following areas:
- core skills training
- breathing apparatus training
- road traffic collision training.
After initial training, you will be required to attend weekly drill nights at your station, where you will receive on-going training and an opportunity to hone your skills.
*The above maybe subject to change at any time*
Apply
We would love to hear from you if you have what we need to be an On-Call Firefighter. If you think you could be the next leader in your community, simply create an account and apply. See our recruitment page to apply to become an On-Call firefighter.