DORSET’s fire brigade is encouraging people to ‘have a go’ as part of a recruitment drive to see more diversity in the service.

Springbourne and Poole fire stations are set to open their doors to residents, eager to find out if a career fighting fires and saving lives could be for them.

The interactive activity days are two of six such events being held across the region by the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service to inspire under-represented parts of the community join the team.

Group manager Karen Adams said: “Basically, 95 per cent of the fire service are white males. So, we’re running these events to say to all parts of the community being a firefighter is a career choice for anyone.

“Women and BME (black and minority ethic) are particularly underrepresented so we are trying to break down some of the barriers. The long and short of it is a lot of women don’t think it is a career for them as they don’t think they are physically strong enough. While it is a demanding job, so much of the work we do is prevention and protection work in the community. It is about being a determined firefighter and having the other skills to help keep the community safe.”

The events aim to dispel some myths and help potential applicants understand what working for the service would entail.

Visitors get the chance to try on kit, complete with the helmet and breathing apparatus, and take part in physical tests, and chat to other firefighters.

Karen, who has been in the service for 23 years, said she was the only female firefighter in Dorset for seven years when she first started.

“We are trying to tackle the educational side of things now so that it is considered a career for woman in schools. In the past women have considered the armed forces or the police, but never the fire service.”

Applications open next month and for those who complete the process, training is expected to begin in June next year.

Karen said: “At the end of the day, the best applications will be the ones that get through, whether that is a man or a woman, it’s not about giving anyone an advantage.”

The event takes place at Springbourne Fire Station on Saturday, October 21, then Poole Fire Station on Saturday, October 28.

Visit www.dwfire.org.uk/working-for-us/be-one-of-us