Council staff offered fire roles

People who work for Lincolnshire County Council are being encouraged to sign up as part-time firefighters.

The authority is the county's largest employer - including teachers, social workers, engineers and support staff.

It is now hoped the recruitment drive will make up a local shortage of retained firefighters, who provide fire cover in addition to their day jobs.

The force needs the equivalent of 30 full time officers and particularly needs people to cover day shifts.

Fitness test

Lincolnshire has about 580 part-time firefighters, making up 82% of the force - the highest percentage in England and Wales.

Retained firefighters get paid for the hours they are called out, up to a maximum of £20,000 year.

Recruits must pass a fitness test and live or work 5 minutes from a fire station.

The Assistant Chief Fire Officer for Lincolnshire, David Ramscar, warned of the consequences if the numbers were not found.

"We need four people to turn an appliance out. If we don't have the staff the appliance can't go.

"Most of the time that doesn't happen but if numbers fall people may find that the nearest fire engine can't respond and they must look for help further away," he said.

The authority hopes other employers in the county will follow their example and encourage employees to do the same.