On-call firefighters take on BBC Radio Stoke in recruitment challenge

Two on-call firefighters from Hanley have tested their expertise against a journalist from BBC Radio Stoke in a series of mini-challenges aimed at showcasing the role and encouraging people to consider joining us.

Last Wednesday (5 February), firefighters Ria Cole and Ben Watson put their skills to the test against BBC Radio Stoke’s Matt Weigold, in five separate challenges – only to come out victorious with a clean 5-0 sweep over the local reporter.

The challenge, held at Hanley Fire Station, saw Matt go head-to-head with Ben and Ria in physical and problem-solving tasks designed to mirror the high-pressure situations firefighters face when responding to incidents. Despite his best efforts, Matt was unable to keep up with the skilled on-call firefighters, but learned lots about what the role offers and why people consider joining our on-call teams.

He tested his skills in a speed test to put on his kit as quickly as possible, something our on-call firefighters do as soon as their alerter goes off. He then learned how to deploy a hose reel, how to use it, store it back on the fire engine, and how to search inside a house for a casualty when the room is full of smoke and completely dark.

Firefighter Ria Cole said: “We were thrilled to have Matt take part in this challenge. It was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the skills and dedication of our on-call firefighters and hopefully inspire more people to consider joining the service.”

The event aimed to raise awareness of the vital role on-call firefighters play in protecting local communities and encourage those who are considering a role in the service to join us.

If you’re interested in becoming an on-call firefighter in Staffordshire, earning an extra income and want to learn more about the role, visit our website here: On-call firefighter recruitment