Express your interest in one of our 'Have a go days'

Are you looking for an exciting and rewarding career in firefighting?

Do you want to serve your community, save lives, and make a real difference? 

At Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, we are dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of our community. Our On-Call Firefighters are the backbone of our emergency response team, providing critical support during fires, accidents, and other emergencies.

By expressing your interest, you will receive timely updates and notifications from our On-Call Recruitment Team and your local fire station.

• Stay updated on recruitment requirements and eligibility criteria
• Receive information about the application process
• Receive invites to our ‘have a go’ days
• Engagement from your local station
• To express your interest, simply provide your details through the link below, and we'll make sure you're on our list to receive all the latest updates. 

Eligibility criteria

You must:

• Live or work no more than five minutes from your nearest station
• Be at least 18 years old at the start of employment, but you can apply before then. There is no maximum age limit for applications
• Have the right to work in the UK at the commencement of employment
• Have good eyesight to carry out your role safely. If you’re unsure that you meet the visual standards, you can book an appointment with your optician, using this visual standards checklist. As part of the application process, you’ll do a LogMAR test which assesses visual performance in low contrast conditions
• Have a good level of strength and fitness. Find out more about the fitness requirements
  be confident in water. You will be expected to complete a course in an open river as part of your firefighter development programme
• Have a good grasp of maths and English. If you cannot evidence having GCSE’s or equivalent in Maths and English at grade C/4 or above, we will require you to take two online tests as part of the application process.
• Having a full UK driving licence is desirable, but not essential if you can meet the 5-minute response time on foot or by cycle. There will also be the requirement to attend training courses across the Service.

Having a criminal record will not necessarily prevent you from becoming a firefighter, it will depend on the type of conviction and when the offence took place. You are required to declare any convictions for offences that are not spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This includes any offences dealt with by a court of law, HM Services disciplinary procedures and any driving offences.

Positive Action

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service is committed to attracting the best candidates and encouraging everyone to consider a career as a firefighter. We have reserved a number of ‘Have A Go’ days for positive action. These sessions are for groups who are under-represented in the fire and rescue service and will help us address particular concerns, uncover any myths about what it is to be a firefighter and give you the opportunity to ask questions and ‘have a go’ at what it is like to join our fire and rescue service.

Under-represented groups include:

Women
People from Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups
People who have English as an additional language
People from LGBTQ+ groups
People with disabilities

If you are from an under-represented background, you are also welcome to attend any of the other ‘Have A Go’ sessions.

Our values

As a Service and as individuals: 

• We are proud to help
• We are honest
• We are respectful
• We are working together

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service recognise and celebrate the vast diversity of the local communities that we serve, and we aspire for this to be reflected in our workforce. We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds, experience and beliefs, who share our values to consider working for us.