A RETAINED fire crew is urgently looking for new recruits after its numbers fell to three – meaning they cannot be sent out on an emergency call. It comes after West Walton s retained crew manager Carl Barnes tore a cartilage in his knee. Mr Barnes said:

A RETAINED fire crew is urgently looking for new recruits after its numbers fell to three - meaning they cannot be sent out on an emergency call.

It comes after West Walton's retained crew manager Carl Barnes tore a cartilage in his knee.

Mr Barnes said: "We are looking for recruits living in the West Walton, Walpole St Andrew, Walpole St Peter and possibly the Walpole Highway area because of the response times that are needed.

"We have got plenty of shift workers but there are only four on call in the daytime and, because of my injury, we have fallen to three and we cannot be sent out.

"Crews now have to be called from nearby stations including Wisbech or Terrington and, if they are called, they would have no crew to respond in an emergency."

Wages, including an hourly wage, an extra disturbance pay if you are called from work, and a yearly retainer wage, is included in the role.

Mr Barnes said: "When it comes to part-time jobs you cannot get any more exciting as this. We do exactly the same as full-time fire crews, such as road traffic collisions, fires, rescuing animals, attending community fire safety workshops and installing fire alarms at people's homes."

Recruits get given all the required training in firefighting skills, how to use breathing apparatus, trauma care, fire appliance driving and more.

Mr Barnes said: "The people we are looking for are of any age, in good shape because of the demands that come with the job, and with a sound education."

# For more information about joining the crew, contact Craig Campbell, temporary watch manager at West Walton station, on 07919 492214.