TAVISTOCK?s retained fire crews have a new station officer, following the retirement of Tony Clark earlier this year.
Tim Smith, 55, has just been appointed as the town?s fire chief ? and says he is looking forward to his new role.
Mr Smith, who signed up to the service in August 1968, said: ?The fire service is changing completely now ? and I?m very much looking forward to the changes, and the challenges, during the next few months.
?The service has been running pretty much as it has since it was first invented, but now the government wants us to modernise.
?Retained crews, like ours in Tavistock, will have to do the same qualifications as the regular ones. Basically, it will be like a levelling out process and there?ll be a lot more training.?
Mr Smith hoped the exciting times ahead could encourage more people in the community to think about becoming a retained fire fighter in Tavistock.
He said anyone, male or female, could become a fire fighter provided they were 18 years old or more and were assessed as fit enough.
?We?ve only got one female fire fighter at Tavistock at the moment, so there?s certainly room for more,? said Mr Smith, who said with modern equipment, strength was not an issue for female fire fighters.
Tavistock has 20 retained crew members signed up at present, but Mr Smith said it would be good to attract a few more, so that holidays and sickness could be covered adequately.
Anyone interested in learning more about becoming a fire fighter can go along to Tavistock Fire Station on drill nights, which are held on Thursday evenings at 7pm, or call Tim Smith on 07778 308921.