Daniel Hall. Picture: CAMBS FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE

FIREFIGHTING crews in Cambridgeshire have boosted their ranks after a batch of new recruits joined the county’s on-call team.

Cambridgeshire's new on-call recruits. Picture: CAMBS FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE

Alycia Spencer, Chris Smith, Daniel Hall, Darrell Allen, Grant Tash, Joe Mabbutt and Nick Northrop all qualified as on-call firefighters at Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) after completing an intensive two-week training course in Huntingdon.

The new recruits all have separate day jobs but are expected to respond to a pager alert and get ready to tackle a fire at a moment’s notice.

Plumber Daniel Hall from March signed on to become an on-call firefighter after a recruitment day at Sainsbury’s.

He said: “I wasn’t happy in my old job and it’s every little boy’s dream to be a firefighter.

“I thought it would take years of training and that you would need lots of qualifications but it was really hands-on.

“It’s not all pen and paper but really practical, which I liked.”

The 21 year-old is on-call at March Fire Station for about 80 hours a week, mainly outside work hours, and he explained you can be summoned at any moment,

He said: “One of my first shouts was on Christmas day and we had literally just sat down for Christmas dinner when my pager went and I had to jump up and run out.

“I didn’t care though and all my family understand and are really proud of me.”

On-call firefighters have to be aged 18 or over, have a good level of all-round fitness and live or work within five minutes of an on-call fire station.

CFRS is recruiting for on-call firefighters. To find out more call 01480444500 or visit www.cambsfire.gov.uk