You can read Suffolk County Council's statement on our website.
![Councillor Peter Gould](/image-library/peter-gould-ws-hr-1.xb6cb8b20.jpg?width=470&height=256&fit=crop&quality=75&format=webp)
You can read Suffolk County Council's statement on our website.
On-call firefighters live or work within five to eight minutes of their allocated fire station. (This can vary due to the local stations requirements.) They are fully trained firefighters who are called into service when they are needed rather than staffing the fire stations on a full time basis.
Most on-call firefighters have other employment and take on the role as a second job; however you do not need to be in work to become an on-call firefighter.
The role of a firefighter is rewarding. They respond to fires, rescues and other emergencies, as well as working on prevention through education and fire safety messages.
Everyone at Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service prides themselves on putting our community first. This includes:
Download our on-call firefighter information pack (PDF, 3MB) for a lot more details about the role.
Here are some of qualities and attributes we look for in a firefighter:
Meet Vij, an on-call firefighter with Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service:
To become a firefighter, you will need to pass fitness, practical and written tests.
Every firefighter is expected to maintain their fitness throughout their career, and will have their fitness assessed every year.
All applicants will be required to take and pass the two online written assessments in English and Maths and these will be sat prior to being invited to the physical aptitude tests.
Watch examples of these tests on the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service YouTube channel:
Anyone can apply to work for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service. We welcome applications from all members of the community.
There are some basic requirements to meet if you would like to become a firefighter, but equality, diversity and inclusion are part of our culture.
We want Suffolk to be a great place to work, a place where all our staff enjoy coming to work, feel they can be themselves and their differences are accepted as being an important and valued part of a wider and inclusive team.
Read more about our commitment to diversity, inclusion and culture.
Suffolk County Council is proud to have a number of active staff networks supporting and promoting groups of staff, councillors and partners that share similar characteristics, life experiences, values and beliefs.
Networks influence the organisation to be more inclusive, through work on policy, service development, training, communications, events, culture and have a seat at Suffolk County Council's Strategic Equalities and Inclusion Board.
The staff networks are run by our staff, councillors, and other public sector partners:
Staff networks within Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service:
Apply to be an on-call firefighter
The Recruitment team will receive your form and may contact you about the role.
Visit the Suffolk firefighters website for more information on the requirements and training involved.
You'll need some basic levels of fitness, enthusiasm, willingness to work in a team environment and a desire to support your local community.
You'll also need to answer yes to the following statements to continue with your application:
Aldeburgh |
Eye |
Ipswich East |
Orford |
Bungay |
Felixstowe |
Ipswich Princes Street |
Reydon |
Bury St Edmunds |
Framlingham |
Ixworth |
Saxmundham |
Clare |
Hadleigh |
Nayland |
Sudbury |
Debenham |
Halesworth |
Needham |
Wickhambrook |
Elmswell |
Holbrook |
Newmarket |
Wrentham |
Stowmarket |
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If you have any questions about being an on-call firefighter, you can contact:
Our recruitment team at:
Email us at: SFRS.recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk
Or call on: 01473260588
Many of our on-call firefighters are in full time employment with local employers who are keen to support their community. They are just like any other employee, except that they may be on standby for some of their working hours.
On-call firefighters live or work within five to eight minutes of their allocated fire station and are fully trained firefighters who are called into service when they are needed rather than staffing the fire stations on a full time basis.
They are contracted to work certain hours based on their availability, during which, they keep a pager with them. It is up to the on-call firefighter to agree the hours they are available with their primary employer.
More detailed information can be found in our on-call firefighter employer guide (PDF, 2.3MB).