FAQs - On-call

Can anyone be a on-call firefighter?

Yes, anyone can be an on-call firefighter as long as:

Our only requirements for our on-call firefighters are:

• You’re over 18-years-old

• You live or work within 5 minutes of an on-call fire station

• You have a good all round level of fitness

• Your eyesight meets our requirements

There's no upper age limit, no height requirement and it's not just men who can join. There's lots of stereotypes about who can and can't be a firefighter and we've busted some of those myths below.

Do I need any qualifications?

No, but you will need to pass the online English and Maths assessments as part of your application. You will not need to do these online assessments if you hold a Level 2 pass in Maths and English. This means you will need to have a GCSE pass at grade C or 4 (or above), or have completed a functional skills (level 2) in Maths and English. You will be required to provide evidence of these qualifications.

What if I wear contact lenses or glasses?

Your eyesight doesn’t have to be perfect to be a firefighter, but you will have to take an eye test as part of the recruit medical.

You must meet the required vision standards to pass the recruit medical which is at the end of the application process – if you are unsure of how well you can see then go to an optician, take the below information with you and get an eye test before you apply to make sure you have the required standard.

Firefighters require a certain level of eyesight to enable them to carry out their role safely and must meet a nationally required standard of both distance and near vision when applying to join the fire service.

Safety glasses are provided by the service, including inserts for Breathing Apparatus (BA); all contact lenses are discouraged on operational duty though, as they may compound eye contamination with chemicals or particulate. Hard lenses cannot be worn with breathing apparatus masks.

How well we see at a distance is measured by opticians using a Snellen Chart and it is recorded as two numbers – 6/6 – for example.

The corrected distance vision standard is 6/9 both eyes together, and a minimum of 6/12 in the worse eye. The minimum uncorrected vision for recruits must be 6/18 in the better eye and 6/24 in the worse eye. Vision must be binocular – both eyes together.

For reading documents/equipment dials close up, we use a Near Vision chart to test your vision which is recorded as a letter N and a number indicating the level of near vision.

If you’re aged 25 and over, you must be able to read N12 at 30cm unaided with both eyes open, if you’re under 25, you must be able to read N6 at 30cm unaided with both eyes open. A normal field of vision – how well you can see up, down and to the sides – is also required.

If you’re considering laser eye surgery to improve your vision, there may be a delay in letting you apply, please seek advice from our occupational health service before you get it so that the implications can be talked through with you.

You shouldn’t have a history of night blindness or any eye disease that is likely to progress and result in the future failure of the visual standard.

All colour vision defects are assessed individually by risk assessment at the recruit medical stage and may not be a barrier to recruitment. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to become a firefighter if you are a Monochromat – only able to see in black, white and shades of grey.

What if I’m an HGV driver?

The EC Drivers’ Hours and Tachograph Rules for Goods Vehicles (Regulation 561/2006) limit driving time and make sure that proper rest periods are taken to prevent road traffic collisions. 

The rules apply to anyone who drives an ‘in-scope’ vehicle. ‘In-scope’ describes a goods vehicle over 3.5 tonnes, or a passenger vehicle with nine or more passenger seats.

You’ll be asked in your application form if your primary employment involves driving ‘in-scope’ vehicles. This is so the Station Manager can make sure you’re getting proper rest periods and imposed limits are observed.

We have more than 500 on-call firefighters in Essex. They're all paid to protect their communities and some have served with us for more than 40 years. They cover more than three quarters of fire stations in Essex
and our on-call firefighter model is similar to one used all over the world.

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

This means they're not based at the fire station full time and they can go about their daily business like working other jobs or spending time in their community. All while helping to keep the fire station available when needed. 

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. 

On-call firefighters are competent firefighters who receive training throughout their career to help them respond to a variety of incidents from fires, animal rescues and chemical incidents. 

The role is paid for the amount of hours you can provide fire cover and a further payment when you attend incidents or training. 

On average, our on-call firefighters give around 90 hours a week during the day, evenings and weekends. Giving fire cover means you're within 5 minutes of the fire station and can drop what you're doing to attend an incident. This could be while you're working your day job, in your free time and even while you sleep. 

What is an on-call firefighter?

An on-call firefighter is a person who is ‘on-call’ to respond to a range of emergencies and engages with their local community. They have everyday lives and jobs, until the pager sounds - then they become professional and paid firefighters.

On-call firefighters come from all walks of life. For example, they could be working full-time or part-time, studying at college or university, providing fire cover while their children are in school or they could be retired. One thing they all have in common is they're all working to keep their local community safe. They're working to keep their family, friends, neighbours and colleagues safe as well as being available to help across Essex when needed. 

They need to be able to stop what they’re doing when the pager sounds and get to the fire station within 5 minutes. They never know what they could be heading to but they receive training to deal with a variety of incidents including fires, chemical spills, animal rescues and water rescues.

Who can be an on-call firefighter?

Our on-call firefighters are all unique, coming from a range of backgrounds, careers and different stages in their life. 

Our only requirements for our on-call firefighters are:

• You’re over 18-years-old
• You live or work within 5 minutes of an on-call fire station
• You have a good all round level of fitness
• Your eyesight meets our requirements

That’s it! There’s a lot of myths about who can and who can’t be a firefighter and we can tell you that they’re just myths. 

There are no height requirements to join, we’ve got firefighters who are under 5 ft and some towering over others at almost 7ft. There’s also no upper age limit, some of our firefighters are in their 60s and have dedicated more than 40 years to their communities. 

What we do ask for is flexibility. We can’t predict what will happen on any given day and we rely on our on-call firefighters to be flexible with their time to help us maximise cover across Essex. We’ll give you training to deal with a variety of incidents and with your flexibility, we can make sure we’re there when people need us the most.

We know that it’s not just you we’re asking to be flexible. It’s your family and friends too, there will be times where you have to stop whatever you’re doing and head to the fire station. 

Your employers and colleagues will also need to be flexible. Some on-call firefighters work for an understanding employer who is prepared to release them from their workplace from time to time when the pager goes off, others work for themselves and can arrange their days around their on-call firefighter role.  

Our on-call firefighters need to have good communication skills together with personal skills like courage, understanding, reliability, flexibility, determination, self-motivation, common sense, commitment, enthusiasm and the ability to work within a team. You’ll also need to be able to reflect our values at all times.

Above all, being an on-call firefighter requires a real desire to serve the local community.

Do on-call firefighters get paid?

Yes, many people think the role is voluntary but it is a paid role. On-call firefighters get paid for the time they tell us they are available to work, regardless of whether they are called out, as well as an additional hourly rate for attending incidents and training. The amount you get will depend on your availability, but on average on-call firefighters earn anywhere between £4,000 to £8,000 a year, sometimes more.

When would I be needed?

On average, our on-call firefighters give around 90 hours a week during the day, evenings and weekends. Giving fire cover means you're within 5 minutes of the fire station and can drop what you're doing to attend an incident. This could be while you're working your day job, in your free time and even while you sleep. 

Part of those hours will be a weekly drill night at your fire station which lasts around two hours. You’ll be offered training courses throughout your career which you’ll be able to book on to and be paid during.

Once you’ve passed your assessment process and been offered employment with us you’ll be ready to start training to become an on-call firefighter. This will begin with a two-week training course, which runs Monday – Friday. You’ll be paid during the course which is based in Essex, primarily at one fire station with occasional travel to our bigger training sites in Wethersfield and Witham. 

After this you’ll attend evening training sessions which usually last for two hours one evening a week for 10 weeks.

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. 

Each fire station has it’s own way of maximising cover. There will be times where there are more firefighters available than needed for incidents meaning you wouldn’t always be called to every incident. 

How being an on-call firefighter can fit in with your life 

On average, our on-call firefighters give around 90 hours a week during the day, evenings and weekends. This might sound like a lot but it can all be done around your life outside of the fire service. The vast majority of fire cover given by our on-call firefighters is during the evenings and nights while they sleep. So, provided you’re ready to hop of out bed and make it to the fire station when called, you could be paid while you snooze. If you work in your town too, it could be that you give cover during your working day as well as a few evenings a week or the weekend.

Giving fire cover just means you're within 5 minutes of the fire station and can drop what you're doing to attend an incident. 

Once a week for around two hours, you’ll need to attend a drill night at your fire station. You’ll be paid for this as well as any additional training you need to do.

The number of incidents that an on-call firefighter attends varies between fire stations - on average, our on-call firefighters are called out two or three times a week for a couple of hours at a time.

We recognise that there will be times that unexpected family or work demands prevent you from being available and on those occasions you will be allowed to ‘book off-call’. Like most other jobs, you will also be entitled to paid annual leave.

Because you’ll have to drop what you’re doing at a moment’s notice, we recommend you plan any caring commitments like childcare or caring for a relative for when you’re not on-call. 

Before you’re thinking of applying, make sure to have a chat with your employer about how they could support you in the role. Lots of employers would let you give fire cover during your working hours or be flexible with your hours if you’ve had a call in the night. We’ve make an Employer Information Guide you can give to your employer for more information.

Information for your family

Without the support and encouragement of their partners and families, on-call firefighters would struggle to carry out their role.

This support does mean that occasionally the lives of partners and families can be affected. The main disadvantages to being on-call are:

• It can be difficult to plan spur of the moment activities
• You can be called out in the middle of the night
• You won’t be able to be the sole carer for children or dependants as you’ll need to respond quickly in an emergency

We think the positives outweigh the benefits, being an on-call firefighter means: 

• You’re protecting the community you live in
• You’ll be a positive role model within
  the community
• You’ll learn new skills and your confidence will increase 
• You’ll be an expert in all things fire, road and water safety which could help you make your home and workplace safer

How often will I be called out?

This is something we can't predict, while we work hard to prevent incidents happening, you could be called to an emergency at any time. Some fire stations are busier than others and on average, our on-call firefighters get called two to three times per week for an hour or so at a time. In hot summers you may be busier with grass fires and during storms you may attend more flooding incidents. No two calls are the same.

How will I know when to respond to an incident?

After you complete your initial basic training you’ll be given a pager which will go off loudly - and we mean loudly - when you’re needed to attend an emergency call. You will then be required to get to your station immediately, but safely, within 5 minutes.

Can I socialise while I’m on-call?

Yes you can go about your daily business as long as you stay within the agreed response time of the station. You need to be fit for duty, so do not drink alcohol if you're providing fire cover.

What if I am caring for dependants?

If you are caring for dependants when you are on-call, you must make sure that you have alternative arrangements in place in case you need to attend an emergency.

What if I move house?

There are 40 on-call fire stations in Essex, so the chances are you might end up moving close to another one. You'll be able to transfer to another fire station when you move. 

What do I get out of it?

Firefighting is not like any other job. It can be unpredictable, exciting and highly rewarding. You’re helping to protect your local community - your family, friends, neighbours and colleagues.

You will learn new skills along the way as you train to deal with fires, road traffic collisions and rescuing people and animals from water, height and depth. You’ll also have opportunities to learn other skills like Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) Driver Training, First Aid and Trauma Care Training as well as Health and Safety Training.

It is a paid role. As an on-call firefighter you will receive an annual retainer based on your hours of availability, plus an hourly rate when you attend incidents, drill nights, training courses, community safety activities or carry out equipment maintenance, as well as paid holiday.

Pay

The amount you get will depend on your availability, but on average on-call firefighters earn anywhere between £4,000 to £8,000 a year, sometimes more.

You’ll be paid a standard rate for the hours you are available as well as additional payments when you are called to incidents, training or community events.

Holiday

Like most full time jobs, you’ll be entitled to four weeks paid leave a year. After five years’ service, this entitlement increases to five weeks. A week’s leave means a period of seven consecutive days free from duty but can also be taken as individual days.

Pension

From the start of your employment you will be able to contribute to a firefighter’s pension scheme, which we will also contribute to.

Benefits

At Essex County Fire and Rescue Service your payslip is only part of the package. As well as the more obvious benefits, like working for one of the largest fire and rescue services in the county and keeping your community safe, our competitive pension scheme and rates of pay, there are additional perks that make us an employer of choice.

From career development to our in-house Occupational Health services, access to affordable private health care and a Blue Light Card that gives discounts at 1000s of retailers. There’s lots of benefits in becoming an on-call firefighter. 

Find out more about the benefits at join.essex-fire.gov.uk/jobs/benefits/

Joining the Fire and Rescue Service is a great way of meeting new people – both the people you work with and those in the community who you help. 

Training throughout your career

Once you’ve passed your assessment process and been offered employment with us you’ll be ready to start training to become an on-call firefighter. 

This will begin with a two-week training course, which runs Monday – Friday. You’ll be paid during the course which is based in Essex, primarily at one fire station with occasional travel to our bigger training sites in Wethersfield and Witham. 

After this you’ll attend evening training sessions which usually last for two hours one evening a week for 10 weeks.

To become a fully trained firefighter, you will need to go through development training, some of this will take place during drill nights and some will need to be completed in your own time. This normally takes up to 24 months to complete and includes:

Breathing apparatus initial course:

Two weeks, Monday – Friday

10 day course covering the use and operation of all breathing apparatus equipment.

Fire behaviour training:

One week, Monday – Friday

Five day fire behaviour training course combining elements taught on the breathing apparatus initial course with the realistic conditions encountered at operational incidents. It is held at Wethersfield Training Centre.

Development and maintenance of skills

After successfully completing your development training, you’ll have the opportunity to complete training courses to broaden your knowledge. You’ll receive further training throughout your career to make sure that you’re kept up to date with the latest technology and equipment.

Promotion and longer term career prospects

Once you’ve completed your firefighter development, you’ll have the opportunity to complete training in leadership and management to progress to the roles of Crew Manager or Watch Manager.

Once you've checked you meet the basic requirements, eyesight requirements and you're fit and ready, you're ready to apply...you won't regret it!

If you have any questions before applying, please email mailbox.oclo@essex-fire.gov.uk

You can apply here. 

After we receive your application form we’ll contact you to go through the next steps. If you meet the requirements and your local station is recruiting you will go through the following stages:

Stage 1 - Informal meeting at your local fire station with the Station Manager and Watch Manager

This is your chance to meet your managers and it's your opportunity to ask any questions you have with the team you'll be working with. 

Stage 2 - Online English and Maths assessments

You will need to pass the online English and Maths assessments as part of your application. You will not need to do these online assessments if you hold a Level 2 pass in Maths and English. This means you will need to have a GCSE pass at grade C or 4 (or above), or have completed a functional skills (level 2) in Maths and English. You will be required to provide evidence of these qualifications.

Stage 3 - Pre-fit with the fitness team

This one isn't mandatory but if you wanted to give the fitness test a go ahead of the assessment day, you can book in with our fitness team to have a go at some of the elements of the assessment day. The fitness team has given lots of advice on how to train for the assessment day here. 

Stage 4 - Physical assessment day

All applicants will have to pass our assessment day in order to progress through their application to become an on-call or wholetime firefighter. 

You'll have to pass the National Fire Selection Test, more details about the assessment day can be found here.

1. Bleep Test or Chester Treadmill Test

2. Ladder climb

3. Casualty evacuation 

4. Ladder lift

5. Confined spaces

6. Equipment assembly - manual dexterity 

7. Equipment carry

Stage 5 - Formal interview

Next, you'll have a formal interview with your Station Manager. It will be a values-based interview where we will find out more about you and assess your values and behaviours.

This is your time to shine, we want to hear all about how you've demonstrated behaviours like problem solving, working with others and your commitment to diversity and integrity. 

It's also another chance to ask any questions you have about the role.

Stage 6 - Occupational Health Assessment

We want to make sure you'll be safe in your role and our occupational health screening assessment is there to make sure you're fit and healthy to carry out the role safely. 

Stage 7 - Background checks  

We'll need references from you to cover a minimum of three years of your employment or educational history before we can give you an offer of employment. 

All members of staff will be required to complete a Disclosure and Barring (DBS) check.

Stage 8 - Four week on-boarding

While we wait to get you booked onto a training course, we'll ask you to start attending weekly drill nights at the fire station. You'll be paid for the time you attend the fire station. 

Stage 9 - Two week basic training course followed by additional evenings and weekends

Finally, once you’ve passed your assessment process and been offered employment with us you’ll be ready to start training to become an on-call firefighter.

This will begin with a two-week training course, which runs Monday – Friday. You’ll be paid during the course which is based in Essex, primarily at one fire station with occasional travel to our bigger training sites in Wethersfield and Witham. 

After this you’ll attend evening training sessions which usually last for two hours one evening a week for 10 weeks.

All applicants will have to pass our assessment day in order to progress through their application to become an on-call or wholetime firefighter. 

You'll have to pass the National Fire Selection Test, more details about the assessment day can be found here.

1. Bleep Test or Chester Treadmill Test

2. Ladder climb

3. Casualty evacuation 

4. Ladder lift

5. Confined spaces

6. Equipment assembly - manual dexterity 

7. Equipment carry

Many people worry that they aren’t fit enough or strong enough to be a firefighter when this probably isn’t the case. Being a firefighter is a physical job, but with the right training most people can reach the average level of fitness that we require.

Our Fitness Team has given tips on how to train for each section of the fitness assessment here. 

Can I have a beard?

Some facial hair is allowed like a goatee beard or moustache. As a firefighter you will be required to wear a facemask when you are wearing breathing apparatus. Hair (including facial hair) must not impair the seal of the breathing apparatus face mask nor must it impair vision or hearing. 

Can I wear makeup and jewellery while I’m on duty?

For safety reasons, jewellery including rings, earrings and facial piercings may not be worn while on duty. 

Some facial hair is allowed like a goatee beard or moustache. As a firefighter you will be required to wear a facemask when you are wearing breathing apparatus. 

Semi-permanent or false eyelashes may not be worn while on duty.

While on duty, the use of makeup or hair preparations, such as hair spray, is allowed.