Join Bedfordshire Fire Service as an On-Call Firefighter!
Do you want to be part of a close-knit team? Are you eager to gain unique skills and make a real difference in your community? Looking for a job that offers extra income and fits around your work and family commitments.
If so, apply now
Role of an On-Call Firefighter?
On-Call Firefighters respond to various operational incidents and contribute to Community Safety initiatives aimed at reducing fires, accidents, and associated injuries. They carry a pager and respond to emergency incidents as and when they happen and work alongside other dedicated professionals and community groups.
Many on-call firefighters have primary jobs and therefore provide evening, daytime, or weekend cover. When they are on call, they may be at home, working from home, working for themselves or for a nearby company, or out in their local community - staying within a six-minute travel time of the fire station (or eight-minute travel time for Woburn fire station).
Availability
We will discuss your availability early on to ensure it meets the Service needs.
You will receive a retaining fee for your availability, along with additional payments for attending incidents, community activities, and weekly drill nights. We offer extensive professional training and development, including diversity and inclusion, health and safety, driver training, medical skills, and leadership development.
Entry Requirements
To become an On-Call Firefighter, you must:
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Live or work within 6 minutes (8 minutes for Woburn) of your local. fire station to respond quickly to emergency calls.
- Be at least 18 years old by the start of your employment.
- Be physically fit.
- Be confident in the water with the ability to swim and rescue yourself from calm water.
- Have a full car (Cat B) driving licence (manual or automatic) with no pending issues that entitles you to drive in the UK without restrictions by the date of pre-employment checks. You will be required to provide evidence of this during the recruitment process.
For more details on the essential criteria required for the role, please see the attached job description and person specification.
We have many On-Call opportunities across the county. These roles are demanding but offer the chance to make a significant impact.
Apply now and be part of something extraordinary!
Key dates in process include:
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Application closing date: 7 August 2026
- Suitability meetings – between 3 August to 21 August 2026
- Written/Practical tests – w/c 24 August & 31 August 2026
- Interviews – w/c 14 and 21 September 2026
- Offers to be sent 28 September 2026
- Pre-employment appointments – w/c 5 October 2026
- Medical – w/c 19 and 22 October 2026
- Training start date – 11 January 2027
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This is a public-facing role and it is essential to have the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English.
This post will be exempt from the provisions of Section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2023. Therefore, applicants are not entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are ‘spent’ under the provision of the Act.
The appointment will be made subject to satisfactory pre-employment clearances, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance at the level required for the role.
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to safer recruitment, and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of Adults, Children and Young People and all staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is an equal opportunities employer that welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process.
As part of our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, we encourage applications from those who have served, are serving, or are part of a military family. Your skills and experience are valued here.
To understand how we might use your information during the recruitment process: Applicant Privacy Notice FINAL.pdf
