ANYONE who has considered becoming an on-call firefighter can attend sessions at stations in North Dorset over the coming fortnight.

Shaftesbury Fire Station will open to the public from 6pm until 9pm this Thursday, October 18, while the Blandford station will be open between 6pm and 9pm on Wednesday, October 17 and Wednesday, October 24.

Crews based at the stations will give visitors the chance to use breathing masks, climb a ladder and try out the national firefighter selection test for carrying equipment.

On-call firefighters are needed at both stations. Contracted hours can vary, but personnel are usually available for between 48 and 120 hours per week.

Support officer Martin Hoole said: “The easiest way to see if being a firefighter is for you is to come along, have a chat with the crew and try your hand at different things.

“On-call firefighters receive the same training and development as wholetime colleagues, and we can be called to all manner of emergencies, including fires, road traffic collisions, animal rescues and flooding.

"The pay does vary, depending on how much cover you give, but it is fantastically rewarding to be a part of your community and be in a position to help people.”

All on-call crews need to be able to respond to the fire station within five minutes from either home or work.

For more information, visit dwfire.org.uk/be-one-of-us