Almost half of Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service’s firefighters are on-call, meaning they respond to emergency calls within their community from home or work. The contribution of on-call firefighters and the support of employers, particularly in Lancashire’s rural areas and small towns, enable the Service to respond quickly to fires and other emergencies, and keep people safe. There is great value in the skills and attributes our on-call firefighters bring to the Service and equal benefi ts to be gained outside the Service from the training and experiences they go through. This guide will tell you what is involved for both employer and employee, and how this could benefit your organisation and your community.
Jon Charters - Chief Fire Officer
On-call firefighters are trained professionals who live or work within 5–7 minutes of a fire station. They often have other jobs—as employees of small and large businesses or as self-employed tradespeople.
Commit to a set number of hours each week
Attend 42 training sessions annually, usually evenings, with flexibility available
Work alongside full-time crews on incidents such as fires, floods, road traffic collisions, chemical spills, and rescues
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service operates 39 fire stations and 58 fire engines—32 of which are crewed by on-call firefighters. These crews are often first on the scene during emergencies.
Employers located near a fire station can play a key role by supporting staff who want to serve as on-call firefighters. Your support:
Helps protect the community
Contributes to a life-saving service
Enhances your company’s reputation and social responsibility
On-call firefighters bring many positive attributes to the workplace:
Strong teamwork and collaboration skills
Calm decision-making in high-pressure situations
Self-discipline, responsibility, and initiative
Transferable skills including first aid, trauma response, manual handling, health & safety, risk assessments, hazardous materials, safeguarding, and equality & diversity
Supporting on-call staff can also:
Improve staff loyalty and motivation
Enhance your company’s reputation in the community
Demonstrate engagement with social responsibility initiatives
On-call firefighters attend a two-week Initial Training Course at the Chorley Training Centre, plus ongoing development:
Core skills, equality & diversity, health & safety, and risk assessments
Optional certifications: First Aid, Trauma Risk Management, Leadership, Incident Commander, IOSH Health & Safety, LGV license
This professional development builds skills that benefit both the firefighter and your business.
Employees encouraged to pursue passions like firefighting often report:
Increased loyalty and motivation
Greater job satisfaction and productivity
Opportunities to earn extra income while staying committed to their main role
Occupational health support is also provided, helping maintain wellbeing and potentially reducing sickness absence.
By supporting on-call firefighters, your business:
Plays a vital role in keeping the community safe
Gains employees with highly valued skills
Enhances its public reputation and demonstrates social responsibility
For more information, contact our On-Call Support Officers to discuss options and flexibility for your staff.
We understand releasing employees is a significant decision. We understand that releasing employees to serve as on-call firefighters is an important decision. Here’s what it means for your business:
Availability: On-call firefighters provide their availability one week in advance. The system allows flexibility, so if a busy workweek or urgent deadlines arise, your business commitments take priority.
Frequency of Call-Outs: On average, firefighters are called out 2–3 times per week, typically for about an hour per incident. This can vary depending on the area and hours of availability.
Time Away for Training: Mandatory training is scheduled in advance, and firefighters are paid for attending. Staff are encouraged to discuss training schedules with their employer to minimise disruption.
Flexibility: The Service recognises the impact of releasing staff and works with businesses to provide flexible contracted hours, reducing disruption to your operations.
We encourage on-call firefighters to ensure that their primary employment remains a priority and that they maintain their availability to Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service in agreement with their managers.
We recognise the impact releasing employees may have and offer flexibility in terms of contracted hours to cause minimal disruption to the business.
Call out information specific to your local station can be found on our website by looking up your local station.
We encourage on-call firefighters to return to their primary employment at the earliest opportunity following an incident. In the event of a false alarm, for example, the fire engines
can be back at the station within 20 minutes.
Firefighters do not tend to remain at incidents for long periods of time due to safety and welfare implications. The Service sends additional crews to relieve those working at incidents for protracted periods. In very busy periods, firefighters are requested to increase their availability and they are encouraged to discuss and agree this with their primary
employers.
Employers do not receive any monetary remuneration. We encourage on-call firefighters to agree arrangements with their employers to leave work to attend incidents.
Danuta is an Engineering Support Administrator at GVS Filter Technology UK and an on-call firefighter at Morecambe. " Having two roles that I enjoy is fulfilling. I am really grateful that my employers has been supportive in my new career as an on call firefighter. I
have always wanted to take challenges, and this helps me to feel part of the local community. This benefits myself, the service and community a Is can ensure that the fire engine is available during the key times of the day and night.
Since I have completed the training, I feel much more confident in helping during an emergency and my colleagues now recognise the skills that I can bring to the organisation.
I would encourage anyone who is interested in becoming an on-call firefighter to apply, I work with a great team and there are plenty of opportunities to develop."
Tim is a Project Engineer at a Lancaster based tech firm and an on-call firefighter in Lancaster. He responds to his pager during regular office hours to provide essential daytime cover.
"Being an on-call firefighter is a big commitment, but it’s incredibly rewarding. No two call-outs are ever the same, and that’s what makes it so engaging. It challenges you in unexpected ways and helps you grow — not just as a firefighter, but in your day-to-day job too. I’ve developed skills like staying calm under pressure, thinking on my feet, and working closely with others, which have made me a stronger engineer.
I’m really grateful to my employer for their support and flexibility. Their understanding means I can respond when needed without it impacting my work — in fact, the experience has only added value to what I do. It’s great to know I’m making a difference in the community while continuing to progress in my career.
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