Essex County Fire and Rescue Service is looking for new recruits

Could you make a difference to making Essex safe? Apply to be a wholetime firefighter with Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) now.

Recruitment opened today (Tuesday 16 July) and will remain open until 15 August, for a squad which will start in February 2024.

ECFRS is encouraging people from all walks of life to join and contribute to the safety and well-being of the community.

You don’t need any firefighting experience as training will be provided. To apply, candidates must meet the following minimum requirements:

· be eligible to work in the UK  

· be 18 years old on 1 February 2025

· have a full UK driving licence (manual)  

· You must have a GCSE pass at grade C or 4 (or above),or have attained Functional Skills (Level 2) in Maths and English.

Firefighter Melita Gosling started as a wholetime firefighter this year. She said: “My favourite part of training was Breathing Apparatus as it was the most challenging but also the most rewarding, and completely different to anything I have done before.

“Station life is another massive learning experience. You get to work with amazing people who all have different strengths, but come together as a team to make sure we all perform at our best.

“I enjoy the structure of day-to-day station life, making sure all checks have been completed but also the variety of different drills and the excitement of not knowing when your next shout will be.”

Chief Fire Officer/Chief Executive Rick Hylton said: “We’re excited to start recruitment for another squad of wholetime firefighters this year.

“Our firefighters are team members, teachers, communicators, community-minded, protectors and role models. Firefighting is a diverse and rewarding career on the front line, saving lives.

“But the role isn’t just about tacking fires or rescuing people from danger. It’s about speaking to people, engaging with communities, visiting schools and offering safety advice.”

“This recruitment drive is an essential step in making sure that we have the skilled and committed people needed to respond to emergencies and make Essex a safe place to live, work and travel.”

Next steps

If you’re interested in applying to become a firefighter and want to know more, visit https://www.essex-fire.gov.uk/wholetime

There, you'll find lots of information on fitness, the application process and the link to apply.