Chipping Norton urgently needs
part-time firefighters

Firefighters in the north of the county are appealing for both men and women in the area to join them in a bid to ease the strain at Chipping Norton fire station. More retained (part-time) firefighters are needed to reduce the burden on existing staff at the station. Chipping Norton is desperate to boost crew numbers to support existing firefighters and to help safeguard the local community.

County Councillor Ray Jelf said: I would urge anyone living or working within 1.5 miles of Chipping Norton fire station to consider becoming a retained firefighter so as to help with the safety education and protection of their local community. Retained firefighters are professionals who respond to emergencies and are on call some parts of the week.  They can work the hours that suit them and that fit around their home and working lives.  They are trained by the Fire and Rescue Service to do the same job as their whole-time counterparts, but on a part-time basis they are the backbone of the fire service. They are ordinary people doing an extraordinary job.

The county council has a "family friendly" policy - meaning, for example, mothers who wanted to apply for the role could work flexible hours during term-times only. Retained crews need to live within a mile-and-a-half, or five minutes travel, of their local station. They can earn between 350 and 400 a month. 

The message from the Fire and Rescue Service is clear - if youre reasonably fit and healthy, aged between 18 and 55 and want to earn extra money mums going back to work or shift workers - or just want to make a difference to the local community, then please call the recruitment hotline on: .  Alternatively, call in at Chipping Norton Fire Station on Wednesday evenings between 7 and 9pm when the firefighters train and talk to the Watch Manager Steven Holland