Becoming a firefighter: what to expect

Full-time Firefighter

Your job will involve: 

• fire safety and fire prevention; particularly older people, children and groups identified as vulnerable
  
• finding innovative ways to make sure our key safety messages will get across
• visiting people in their homes to carry out fire safety visits and advising businesses on fire safety
• enforcement of fire and other safety laws, which may involve working with planners and architects on building design
• knowing about a wide range of hazards
• be involved in creating the plans the Service has, to protect the Island
• constant practice, training in new skills and self-directed learning
• maintaining your fitness
• dealing calmly and professionally with emergencies
• working alongside other emergency services
• helping people who are in distress

Professional progression:

• foundation training from 18 to 24 months (18 weeks at a UK Training School)
• operational skills
• qualified firefighter level
• intermediate skills in core, technical and service support
• excelling in rope, inshore and specialist rescue
• leaders will gain:
• supervisory leadership
• managerial and technical qualifications
• our single tier entry recognises that only by understanding what it means to be on the front line, will you be in the best position to succeed in a leadership position

On-call Firefighter

On-call firefighters carry a pager and respond from their home or work. You are required to provide one period of 24hrs on call every 4 days if working from St Helier, alternate evenings if working from St Brelade 'Western Fire Station' and alternate back up support depending on your choose of category as detailed in the example shift below.

You will either respond to:

• an incident with a crew
• provide additional resources at an incident already underway
• standby to attend any further incidents

You might be involved in:

• fighting fires
• supporting people in serious road traffic collisions and other rescue situations
• dealing with chemical spills
• offering advice on fire safety to homes and businesses
• giving careers advice to schools
• delivering fire safety training
  

You will be expected to have all the same personal qualities of a full time 'On Duty' firefighter and you will be trained to the same high standard in the core firefighting role.

Pay for firefighters

Full-time

Full-time firefighter's salary

On-call

On-call firefighters receive a monthly standby payment and get an hourly payment for weekly evening training sessions and when they respond to calls.

On-call firefighter