Just four turn up for Shropshire brigade's recruitment day
A taster day was held at a fire station in a bid to get more black and Asian people to join the brigade as on-call firefighters – but only four people turned up.
An Army veteran, ex-student, office worker and engineer turned up at Wellington Fire Station in Telford at the weekend to talk to firefighters, tour the station, watch equipment demonstrations and hear about the recruitment process and career information.
It was all part of a campaign by Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service to promote a firefighting career to ethnic minorities living in the county.
British-born former student Akib Ali, 20, of Hurleybrook Way, Leegomery, Telford, whose parents are from Pakistan, said he had been considering a career in the fire service for a number of years and would now be putting in his application.
Ex-soldier Fitzroy Lindsay, 40, an Army reservist, of Dee Close, Wellington, who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, said he too would be applying to become an on-call firefighter.
Tony Stewart, 53, of Kingsley Drive, Donnington, said: "I've just come to see what it is all about." And Tom Headley, 30, of Mill Bank, Wellington, said: "I just live across the road and I think it would be a rewarding career. It's a chance to give something back and help the community."
Firefighters Luke Grant and Lee Guinea led the demonstrations.
Mr Guinea said: "Life as a firefighter is more than just squirting water on a fire. It involves fire prevention with school visits, community work, fitting smoke alarms, attending weekly drill nights and carrying out car, water and animal rescues." Mr Grant, who joined the fire service 10 years ago after attending a similar taster day, added: "In the fire service you are part of a team. We spend a lot of time together and after a drill night we all go for a curry."
Watch manager Phil Davies said: "It's important we get the best people for the job from the whole Shropshire community."
On call firefighters must live or work within five minutes of a fire station and turn out for a set number of hours each week to answer 999 calls and attend weekly drill sessions.
Men and women interested in a fire service career are invited to attend drill nights at Wellington Fire Station at 6.15pm on Tuesdays.
