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1. Home
2. Recruitment
3. Retained Firefighters
4. What is a Retained Firefighter?

What is a Retained Firefighter?

A retained Fire Station is a Fire Station where 'part time', 'on call' retained firefighters work. The station is not a permanently staffed station, meaning the retained firefighters are 'on call' from home or work rather than on duty at the station. Retained Fire Stations respond to emergencies 24 hours a day.

Retained firefighters are men and women who are 'on call' to respond to a range of emergencies. These may be fires, floods, road traffic accidents or chemical spills.  Retained Firefighters also visit schools and other community events to provide community education.

Many retained firefighters have other full or part-time jobs, but when the call comes they are ready to drop whatever they are doing and become part of a team, ready to face any emergency. Although they are 'on call' they are trained and capable of saving life and property.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and are committed to ensuring our workplace reflects the diverse communities we serve.

We welcome applications from women, indigenous people and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

What does it take to be a retained firefighter?

Retained Firefighters come in a range of shapes and sizes.  It is a tough job and you need to be fit and healthy. You need to live or work within a reasonable distance from a fire station so that you can respond quickly in an emergency. Because you can't predict when you will be needed you have to be flexible and available at short notice. The chances are that you will be at home, working for yourself or working for a community-minded employer who can let you take time off from time to time at short notice. You don’t need formal qualifications, but you do need common sense and enthusiasm.

What's in it for me?

There is the satisfaction of a job well done, and the camaraderie which comes from working together in challenging situations. You will receive training in the use of specialist equipment and more general skills, like first aid. These will be useful to you in all walks of life. You will also learn to be more self-reliant and confident. After all, if you can cope in an emergency you are ready for anything else that life might throw at you. You also get paid.