On Call Firefighter - West District

Suffolk County Council; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Firefighters’ Pension scheme

Uniform provided

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Blue Light card

Training opportunities

Staff networks and discounts

Job summary

Suffolk County Council’s Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service is recruiting On-Call Firefighters to provide emergency cover across the county. You will respond to incidents, work as part of a close-knit team and help protect communities across West District stations.

Hours are flexible; you will be contracted to a set number of on-call hours with an annual retainer plus an hourly rate and disturbance fees for attending incidents and training.

Qualifications

• Minimum 18 years old with no upper age limit.
• Live or work within 5 to 8 minutes of a Suffolk fire station.
• Hold a full UK driving license and have access to personal transport.
• Be physically fit and able to work in teams under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Respond to emergency incidents and provide cover across the county.
• Work as part of a team and attend training sessions as required.
• Operate at heights and confined spaces when needed.

Skills

Teamwork

Calm under pressure

Physical fitness

UK driving license

Community protection

Job description

Job Description

On-Call Firefighters are vital part of the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service. They provide an efficient, effective service that gives emergency cover across the county.

• Employer: Suffolk County Council, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service
• Location: West District – Brandon, Bury St Edmunds, Clare, Elmswell, Haverhill, Ixworth, Mildenhall, Newmarket, Stowmarket, Sudbury and Wickhambrook
• Salary: Annual salary / retainer fee, plus an hourly rate and disturbance fee for attending incidents and training
• Hours: On Call hours
• Contract: Permanent

Minimum requirements

• Minimum 18 years old (there is no upper age limit).
• Live or work within 5 to 8 minutes of a fire station in Suffolk.
• Hold a full UK driving license and access to personal transport.
• Have a reasonable level of personal fitness.
• Have permission to be released from your main employment to attend emergency incidents (if you will be attending calls whilst at work).
• Can operate at heights and confined spaces.
• Keep calm under pressure.
• Ability to work well in a team.
• Can develop your skills and work independently.

Hours of work and pay

You would be contracted to work a set number of hours based on your availability, during which, you would need to keep a pager with you. You would agree which hours you cover; it could be days, nights, weekends or a combination of these. To find out more, please read our guide to what an On-Call Firefighter is paid (Word).

Benefits of being an On-Call Firefighter

• The satisfaction and respect that comes with providing such a crucial service.
• Membership of a competitive Firefighters’ Pension scheme.
• Issued with a uniform and personal protective equipment.
• Eligibility for a Blue Light card.
• A lifetime of support from the Firefighters Charity for you and your loves ones.
• Access to national training schemes facilitated by the Fire Service College, Women in the Fire Service and the Asian Fire Service Association.
• An annual cost-of-living increase.
• Training and encouragement to expand your knowledge.
• Diverse and active staff networks.

Additional benefits include shopping vouchers and discounts, public transport discounts, tax‑free bike schemes, a health, wellbeing and lifestyle support scheme, plus lots more!

Stations available

Brandon, Bury St Edmunds, Clare, Elmswell, Haverhill, Ixworth, Mildenhall, Newmarket, Stowmarket, Sudbury and Wickhambrook.

You will state in your application which station you are applying for. Please note that the cover required will be subject to station need and will form part of the shortlisting process.

Reasonable adjustments

Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at [e-mail] or 03456 014412. You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages.

Mandatory checks

DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.

Closing date

Closing date: 11.30pm, 30 September 2026.

Commitment to safeguarding

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.