MARLBOROUGH fire station wants new on-call firefighters and is holding a number of events to attract new recruits.

A charity car wash is being held at the fire station in The Parade on Saturday between 10am and 2pm to raise money for the Fire Fighters Charity.

The event is also an opportunity for people to find out more about being a firefighter.

There will also be two have-a-go evenings at the fire station in The Parade between 7pm and 9pm on Monday April 13 and Wednesday April 15.

On-call firefighters respond to a pager when fire control requires their attendance at an incident – contracted hours can vary, but personnel usually make themselves available for between 48 and 120 hours every week.

Between them, each fire station team will provide cover for weekdays, evenings, nights and weekends.

Station manager Paul Jarmey said: “To be on-call, you need to be able to respond to the fire station in around five minutes once your pager goes off, and this can be from home or work.

“Our crews can be called to all sorts of emergencies, including fires, road traffic collisions, animal rescues and flooding.”

“On-call firefighters receive the same training and development as whole time colleagues, and employers can benefit from those skills, which include first aid, manual handling, a greater understanding of health and safety in the workplace, and enhanced team spirit.

“The pay does vary, depending on how much cover you give, but it is fantastically rewarding to be a part of your community and to be in a position to help people.”

Anyone interested in becoming an on-call firefighter but can’t attend one of these events can find out more at www.wiltsfire.gov.uk/workingforus