FIRE stations in Braintree and Witham are hosting recruitment taster events for new heroes in on-call firefighters.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service has more than 500 on-call firefighters who cover more than three quarters of fire stations in Essex.

On-call firefighters live or work within five minutes of the fire station and are paged when there is an incident.

This means they aren’t based at the fire station full time and can go about their daily business working other jobs or spending time in their community, while helping to keep the fire station available when needed.

On-call firefighters are all paid to protect their communities and some have served in ECFRS for more than 40 years.

Learn - Braintree and Witham fire stations are hosting recruitment taster sessions for on-call firefighters Learn - Braintree and Witham fire stations are hosting recruitment taster sessions for on-call firefighters (Image: Essex County Fire and Rescue Service) Watch Manager Andy Mott from Witham Fire Station said: “Our station is fully crewed by on-call firefighters who respond to calls in their community whenever they’re needed, whether they’re at work or at home.

“When the pager goes off, we answer - it could be a fire, an animal rescue or a chemical incident.

“In 2023 alone, we attended 429 incidents, and this year, we’ve already responded to over 285 calls.”

In Braintree, the fire station currently has 12 on-call firefighters and is looking to expand its crew.

Both fire stations will be hosting recruitment taster sessions for those considering joining their team of on-call firefighters.

During the taster sessions, attendees will meet with on-call firefighters who live or work within five minutes of their station.

Active - On-call firefighters go about their daily lives and respond to incidents when they get the call. Active - On-call firefighters go about their daily lives and respond to incidents when they get the call. (Image: Essex County Fire and Rescue Service) They will get to see first-hand what the job entails through live demonstrations and equipment showcases, providing insight into the diverse and challenging responsibilities of an on-call firefighter in Essex.

As well as responding to incidents, on-call firefighters also carry out home fire safety visits, attend community events and visit community hubs like schools and care homes to give safety advice.

If you’re over 18, physically fit, and live or work within five minutes of either Witham or Braintree Fire Station, you could be paid to serve your community as an on-call firefighter.

Witham Fire Station will host its session on Saturday, November 25 from 6.30pm to 9.30pm.

Braintree Fire Station will hold its event on Sunday, December 3 from 6pm to 9pm.

To book a place, visit withamfire.eventbrite.co.uk or braintreefire.eventbrite.co.uk.