More volunteers needed to become on-call firefighters in Shropshire

Two recruitment events will be held with the call particularly urgent for people to come forward in Newport and Prees, near Market Drayton.

Anyone interested can turn up to the events at Newport Fire Station, Salters Lane, tomorrow from 6pm to 9pm and March 28, 10am to 1pm.

A new £1.7 million fire station is up and running.

The station in Loggerheads replaces the 40-year-old base in the nearby village of Ashley.

Firefighters say have settled in well after their first week in the new station in Market Drayton Road.

Station manager Mark Walchester said: "The new community fire station at Loggerheads has replaced the outdated facility at Ashley which was no longer fit for purpose.

"It will enable us to provide the best possible service for our communities as the focus is no longer solely on response as it has been in years gone by. There is now a strong emphasis on prevention.

"Our community rooms will mean that we can interact more closely with the residents we serve, meaning they can gain potentially life-saving information and advice from our crews and prevent teams.

"The opening of the new station marks a milestone in the future of the fire and rescue service, offering Loggerheads and the surrounding areas a well-rounded package which is fit for the needs of the 21st century."

There are a total of 15 firefighters who cover the Newport area but with six recently retiring or moving away more are needed.

There are are 11 firefighters in Prees but watch manager Tony Peck, who works at a concrete plant, said the station could take 16.

Firefighters come from all walks of life. Mr Peck, a firefighter for 31 years, said: "It's a way of life. I don't know any different."

He is on call at all times of the day and night and says his wife Sandra and grown-up children "have got used to it".

Firefighters in Prees are often called to chimney and barn fires, trapped farm animals and road accidents on the busy A49 and A41 and attend incidents in neighbouring Whitchurch and Wem. They turn out to about 100 emergencies each year.

"It's an agricultural area around Prees and we do get quite a few animals which have got stuck or barns on fire and there are quite a few accidents," added Mr Peck.

Firefighters from Newport Fire Station attend up to 150 incidents each year, mainly accidents on the A41 and property fires.

"You never quite know what is going to happen next," said watch manager Charlie Cartwright. "We had a horse stuck in a horse box on the A41 recently.

"On call firefighters become part of an extended family. At Newport we get involved in lots of car washes and other events to raise money for charity on our days off."

Firefighters are also involved in fire prevention. They knock on doors to ensure smoke alarms are fitted, educate householders about having an escape plan and encourage them to take measures to reduce the risk of fire.

The are trained to use hi-tech equipment and drill every Thursday from 7pm to 9pm at their fire stations.

Firefighters must live within five minutes of their local fire station, be physically fit and able to give cover during the day. Anyone interested should call (01743) 260200, visit shropshirefire.gov.uk or turn up at the recruitment events.