Shelley's story

"A career for life is what attracted me to join the fire service. Working as a school secretary while my sons were growing up helped me develop excellent typing and communication skills. So I was primed to join the Control and take emergency calls from the public.

For nine years, I enjoyed working as part of a team during my time ‘on watch,’ where I’d work on a shift system made up of two nine-hour days and two 15 hour nights. Being part of a watch means working closely with the same people who become like a second family, especially at times when you are under a great amount of pressure. Empathy, patience and the ability to be resilient in stressful and emotional situations are qualities that make a good member of the Fire Control team.

To be a Fire Control operator, you need to be able to multi-task and have good situational awareness.  Some of the vital skills needed are being able to make on-the-spot decisions, paying close attention to detail and being able to look at the bigger picture. 

I was the first member of Fire Control to become a community safety advocate for the Service, helping people stay safe from fire in their homes and work. This involved carrying out fire safety checks in commercial buildings and visiting people’s homes to fit smoke detectors and give safety advice. School visits and attending community events also formed part of her my, which really helped build my knowledge and experience. 

I was promoted to Watch Manager, and I lead the Control room team to make sure everyone works effectively together."