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FIRE SERVICE AND GENERAL FIRE SAFETY TOPICS => General Interest => Topic started by: callansdad on May 31, 2005, 08:17:50 PM

Title: Wholetime / Retained
Post by: callansdad on May 31, 2005, 08:17:50 PM
I have just started running retained on my rota days.   I would be interested to hear from other Brigades as to how they work this system.

ie working hours etc
Title: Wholetime / Retained
Post by: Jon M on June 12, 2005, 11:23:33 AM
Callansdad

Which service?? have you just started doing this
Title: Wholetime / Retained
Post by: callansdad on June 13, 2005, 10:55:27 AM
Sorry ...... Grampian
Title: Wholetime / Retained
Post by: firemanuk on June 26, 2005, 08:44:43 PM
im in herts doing the same, as long as you do 50% of all calls then ther's no probs
Title: Wholetime / Retained
Post by: Climoz on August 01, 2005, 10:14:52 AM
HI there my name is Richard i am 19 years old and looking to get recruited into teh fireservice im willing to become a retained firefighter for the time been its just i dont know how to go about doing this i live in wolverhampton but willing to move to where positions availible thats how much i want to be in fireservice i have been on west mids fire website and fireservice.co.uk can somebody please help and pont me in right direction cheers.
Title: Wholetime / Retained
Post by: dave bev on August 01, 2005, 11:01:40 AM
richard, not sure of how best to achieve this, bearing in mind you are looking to 'relocate' to gain employment as a retained firefighter. your post suggests that you see being retained as the first step into the wholetime service. retained firefighers offer a tremendous amount of commitment to their local community and im sure dont see themselves as a 'jumping off point' into wholetime employment.

the reality as always is perhaps in some areas not too far away from your 'plan' - but please dont disresepect those who serve their local communities and will continue to do so as retained firefighters.

best wishes and good look in your desire to become a firefighter - if i can offer some advice, why not write (and continue to write) to all fire authoirities AND job centres across the uk - asking them about whole time recruting opportunities, and dont give up!!!!

dave bev
Title: Wholetime / Retained
Post by: fireftrm on August 01, 2005, 01:01:26 PM
Out of interst I have a local retained station with vacancies and it is also one of the busiest, yet cannot attract staff. They have a great history of staff going on to wholetime successes - 6 in the last 8 years.  We have also had 12 RT staff transfer (through a process involving tests and interviews) to WT so I hope that the incentive might increase to at least 1) the numbers interested in a RT job!
Title: Wholetime / Retained
Post by: hughesk on August 10, 2005, 01:17:42 PM
Fireftrm, where are you based. I am currently retained and we get a shout every two or three weeks if we are lucky. Looking to go whole time but most brigade are not recruiting yet, or neither will they be in the short term future.
Title: Wholetime / Retained
Post by: Paul on August 10, 2005, 01:58:36 PM
Hughhesk,

Some of the R/T'd and W/T R/T's stations are busey in my area (Cheshire), I think some turn out on average at least oncce or twice a day, even one of the W/T R.T's stations with a retained 2nd pump turn out on average 15 - 20 times a week.

However there are some stations that are the same as you.

Personally I don't know how you do it.  All that training and not being able to go out of the area incase you get your 3 weekly shout.

Paul
Title: Wholetime / Retained
Post by: hughesk on August 10, 2005, 02:08:51 PM
Psmith

Tell me about it, you put all that time in and never get a shout. I want to be out in the line of fire, apologise there for the pun.

I know a town about 15 minutes from us that is like that, they earn more than the wholetime do.

There has been talk about us going 2nd pump, but this wont happy I doubt it. We have two wholetime pumps and then us so if the station is not that busy anyway, then the wt are not getting much and we just get nothing.

Sometimes you just wonder if it is worth it, but I love the job and wouldnt give it up for anything.

Guess I should be happy as at leastthe town I work in is safe.

Do your RT people turn out from work up there?
Title: Wholetime / Retained
Post by: Paul on August 10, 2005, 02:22:52 PM
Some do I think,

I think some of the busier towns are manned by self employed builders etc in the day but not sure if employers release them to turn out.

There was a 3rd pump at chester that was very busy.  Chester inner city is an A risk are so PDA to most places is 3 pumps and HP.  Therefore 3 rd was busey, however the 3rd was cut over 12 months ago now I think.

Paul
Title: Wholetime / Retained
Post by: dave bev on August 10, 2005, 11:32:25 PM
'a' risk?
Title: Wholetime / Retained
Post by: colin todd on August 11, 2005, 12:45:39 AM
2 in 5 and one in 8. Those were the days Davey.
Title: Wholetime / Retained
Post by: dave bev on August 11, 2005, 10:32:17 AM
thats the point colin, which im sure you picked up on! chester inner city will not be an 'a risk' cos there are no standards of fire cover (yet)

dave bev
Title: Wholetime / Retained
Post by: fireftrm on August 11, 2005, 03:53:04 PM
I am in Northumberland - our Ffs mainly turn out form work, or are shift workers.

As Dave says - standards of fire cover? What are they?
Title: Wholetime / Retained
Post by: colin todd on August 11, 2005, 05:28:53 PM
Firey, I thought you had gone on hols. Its called the get there when you can policy. It worked in remote rural.
Davey, Yes that was the point.
Title: Wholetime / Retained
Post by: fireftrm on August 11, 2005, 05:37:11 PM
worked in rural areas? Still does
Title: Wholetime / Retained
Post by: colin todd on August 11, 2005, 06:10:04 PM
Remote rural, as in not even D risk. (Are you sure you are not on holiday?)
Title: Wholetime / Retained
Post by: fireftrm on August 26, 2005, 05:41:54 PM
Was on hols and now back. Colin I was agreeing with you about the get there when you can as having worked in rural areas (yep remote rural) and that the same still applies. Interestingly there are still some FRS that have/had no declared RR, they seem to give all their rural areas a D risk. Even when these areas have no multiple dwellings in them, some being areas of fields with no buildings at all. Seems the 20 minute line was drwan round stations..............