VOLUNTEERS are urgently being sought to fill vacancies for retained firefighters in Tavistock and Bere Alston.
The Devon Fire and Rescue Service has warned that if additional firefighters are not found, there may be occasions in future when appliances from other stations have to attend incidents in these areas as the local engines may not be available at certain times of the day.
Assistant divisional officer Adge Tilke, retained liaison officer, said firefighters were everyday people who lived or worked in the local community.
?They are builders, housewives, postal workers and shop keepers ? in fact, they come from all and every walk of life.
?The only thing they have in common is that they have all decided to put something back into the community by becoming trained as firefighters.?
He said there were not enough firefighters at present and a real shortage of new volunteers.
?Devon Fire and Rescue can provide the station, engines, equipment and training, but the firefighters themselves have to come from the community,? he stressed.
The service is recruiting an increasing number of women as retained firefighters ? more than 20 in the past two years. ADO Tilke said: ?We know there are many, many more women that are capable of becoming firefighters who are reluctant to put themselves forward. Most people believe that the physical strength required to be a firefighter is much greater than it actually is.?
Retained firefighters need to be reasonably fit, over 18 years old and live or work within a few minutes of the station. For more information call 01392 872331.