Firefighters attend blaze at Brackley Town Football clubhouse – Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service

Ask a grown up to check the smoke alarms once a month.

Never take the batteries out when it goes off by accident, you might forget to put them back in.

Fires on boats have killed 30 boaters in the last 20 years. Most fires are preventable; follow our tips and advice on how to protect your boat and crew from fire, and what to do should a fire break out. The video below is courtesy of Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service:

Boat safety advice

Fit a bubble type gas leak indicator in the LPG cylinder locker
Fit a Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarm suitable for marine use that meets the EN50291-2 standard
Keep the cooking area clean for safety
Keep cabin ventilation clear to prevent a build-up of toxic CO
Check stoves, flues and surrounding areas for damages and repair or replace immediately
Have your chimney swept regularly
Use a proper, stable ashtray for cigarettes
Take extra care with lit candles, don’t leave them unattended and only use secure holders
Make sure you check and maintain your boat’s fuel, gas and electrical systems on a regular basis
Have gas and electric appliances properly installed and serviced routinely by competent fitters
Make an emergency plan with everyone on board before you set out
Have enough life jackets for everyone on board, and keep them in good condition
Only consider tackling a fire with an extinguisher or fire blanket if you are confident using them; if in doubt, evacuate the boat
If you are inland or moored near to land and you have a fire, move everybody off the boat and call 999 immediately
If you are off-shore and you have a fire, move as far away from the fire as you can on deck, get everybody into life jackets and call for help
visit the Boat Safety Scheme website for further advice and guidance

Visit our home fire safety page for advice on how to check your home. We have a checklist available to download and you will also find how to apply for a visit should you need more help.

During the school holidays, and in particular in hot weather, an increasing number of children put themselves at risk of drowning.

To keep yourself safe, when you are in, on or beside water, always follow the Water Safety Code.

Spot the dangers! Water may look safe, but it can be dangerous. Learn to spot and keep away from dangers. You may swim well in a warm indoor pool, but that does not mean that you will be able to swim in cold water.

The dangers of water include:

Hidden currents
It can be deep
No lifeguards
Very cold temperatures
It is difficult to estimate depth
Water pollution may make you ill
It can be difficult to get out (steep slimy banks)
There may be hidden rubbish like shopping trolleys or broken glass

Please refer to the National Water Safety Signs to help you keep safe near open water.

For further information and advice on what you should do if you do get into trouble in open water or falling through ice, please visit the sites below:

http://www.rlss.org.uk/

http://www.rospa.com/leisure-safety/water/advice/

Unfortunately, the very features that provide this fast response can also produce unwanted signals arising from activities other than a real fire.

These can prove both costly both to the Fire Service, by initiating unnecessary turnouts of fire appliances and to the building operator. Evacuation of a building as a result of a false alarm signal can result in loss of production and general disruption of normal business activities.

Visit our Unwanted Fire Signals page for more details on our unwanted fire signal reduction policy.

Follow the simple rules

Compliance with the simple rules below will help to release the fire service for more essential duties.

Automatic fire alarm rules (PDF 160KB)

They may also help to save you from the permanent loss of business so frequently associated with a major fire.

The safety of your building and its occupants can be greatly enhanced by the installation of an Automatic Fire Detection and Alarm System. If properly used and maintained, the automatic system can be a significant factor in reducing the risk to life, and the limiting of damage to your property.

Enforcement action varies from educating and informing, notification of defects to be rectified, agreeing an action plan, an enforcement notice, an alterations notice, a prohibition notice or possible prosecution.

If you have made your assessment but we think you need to take further action, we will discuss this with you and highlight specific areas of concern.

It is, however, the responsible person’s duty to identify and take appropriate measures to comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. See the Public Register of Enforcement Action.

Enforcement action varies from educating and informing, notification of defects to be rectified, agreeing an action plan, an enforcement notice, an alterations notice, a prohibition notice or possible prosecution.

If you have made your assessment but we think you need to take further action, we will discuss this with you and highlight specific areas of concern.

It is, however, the responsible person’s duty to identify and take appropriate measures to comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. See the Public Register of Enforcement Action.

We have responsibility for the enforcement of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. As part of this role we visit a number of premises to carry out a risk based inspection program.

If your premises are selected for a visit you will be required to present a fire risk assessment and emergency plan to one of our Fire Protection Officers (FPO)s and explain the contents.

If, when we visit, you have not completed a fire risk assessment you may have committed an offence under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 which may lead to enforcement action being taken.

Make sure you carry out a continuous fire risk assessment of your building ensuring the following points are followed:

Never obstruct sprinkler heads and fire detectors
Unsafe storage of waste packaging and pallets is a fire risk
Never leave waste containers close to buildings
Remove all sources of ignition wherever possible
Ensure that flammable liquids are stored safely
Make sure that machinery and equipment is maintained

Download the documents below for assistance with completing your risk assessment:

If you feel, having read the guidance, that you:

Do not have an appropriate knowledge or understanding of fire safety and the risk to people from fire to comply effectively with the legislative requirements.
Are unable to invest sufficient time and resources to do justice to this important task.

You will need to appoint a specialist to carry out the risk assessment for you. Such a specialist must identify the fire safety measures that need to be in place. You should maintain close involvement in the process.

The Fire Risk Assessment Competency Council have produced a document (Guidance Choosing a Competent Fire Risk Assessor) for information on how to select an appropriate person or organisation to carry out the risk assessment on your behalf.

The guide and other helpful documents are available via the link below:

Fire Industry Association – Guidance Choosing a Competent Fire Risk Assessor

You can’t see it, taste it or smell it but it can kill quickly and with no warning. Unsafe gas appliances produce a highly poisonous gas called carbon monoxide (CO). It can cause death as well as serious long-term health problems such as brain damage.

Carbon monoxide poisoning – what are the symptoms?

Common symptoms include headaches, nausea, breathlessness, collapse, dizziness and loss of consciousness.

Carbon monoxide symptoms are similar to flu, food poisoning, viral infections and simply tiredness. That’s why it’s quite common for people to mistake this very dangerous poisoning for something else.

Other signs that could point to carbon monoxide poisoning

Your symptoms only occur when you are at home and disappear or get better when you leave home and come back when you return.
Others in your household are experiencing symptoms (including your pets) and they appear at a similar time.

What is carbon monoxide poisoning?

Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs when you breathe in even small amounts of the gas.
When you breathe in carbon monoxide, it gets into your blood stream and prevents your red blood cells from carrying oxygen. Without oxygen, your body tissue and cells die.
Levels that do not kill can cause serious harm to health when inhaled over a long period of time. Long term effects of carbon monoxide poisoning include paralysis and brain damage.

Signs that carbon monoxide could be in your home

The flame on your cooker, fire or boiler should be crisp and blue, yellow or orange flames mean you need to get your appliances checked.
Soot or dark staining around or on appliances.
Pilot lights that frequently blow out.
Increased condensation inside windows.

If you have a faulty appliance in your home, it could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Get it checked as soon as possible by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Why should I get a carbon monoxide alarm?

Because carbon monoxide has no taste, smell or colour you should fit an audible carbon monoxide alarm in your home.
While an alarm will alert you to carbon monoxide in your home, it is no substitute for using a Gas Safe registered engineer.
A carbon monoxide alarm looks similar to a smoke alarm and is very easy to fit by following the manufacturer’s instructions. You can purchase a carbon monoxide alarm for around £15 at your local DIY store, supermarket or from your energy supplier.
Before purchasing a carbon monoxide alarm, always make sure it is officially approved to BS:EN50291:2001 or BS:EN50291:2010. It must have a British or European approval mark on it, such as a Kitemark.
You are particularly at risk from carbon monoxide poisoning while sleeping, as you may not be aware of early carbon monoxide symptoms until it’s too late. Do not use the ‘black spot’ detectors that change colour when carbon monoxide is present. These will not make a sound to wake you up if the poisonous gas is present while you are sleeping.

For further information and to find a register of qualified gas engineers, please go to the Gas Safe website.

Fit at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home.
Standard battery operated alarms are the cheapest option, but the batteries need to be replaced every year – remember to regularly test your alarms.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for fitting the smoke alarm.
A heat alarm can be used in the kitchen instead of a smoke alarm. Instead of detecting smoke these alarms are sensitive to changes in temperature and so won’t give false alarms from cooking fumes.
Test all of your smoke alarms when you install them and then at least once a month by pressing the button until the alarm sounds.
If your alarms need batteries buy good quality ones, longer life batteries are better. If any of your smoke alarms have a one year battery, make sure it is changed every year.
Only take the battery out when you need to replace it; never disconnect or take the batteries out of your alarm if it goes off by mistake.
Testing smoke alarms tests the smoke sensor as well as the power supply and/or battery
If the alarm does not sound when tested, the battery needs to be replaced; if the alarms starts to beep on a regular basis with no signs of fire, you need to replace the battery immediately.

It it is difficult for you to fit smoke alarms yourself, ask a friend or family member to help you.

Living in shared or rented accommodation

If you are a tenant and rent your property, your landlord or housing provider have a legal responsibility to ensure you have working alarms at the start of your tenancy. For more information, please read the information within the fire safety in shared or rented accommodation guidance leaflet (Gov.uk).

Smoke alarms for the deaf and hard of hearing

Strobe lighting and vibrating pad alarms are available for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. It may be useful to consider if other types of alerters would also be helpful in daily living. Alerters can often be linked to one system rather than needing lots of different pieces of equipment.

Contact the ‘Action on Hearing Loss’ information line on 0808 808 0123 or textphone 0808 808 9000 or visit their website for further information.

If you store large amounts of possessions in and around your home, it means that a fire has a greater risk of spreading, and it may be more difficult to escape quickly. You can help keep yourself safe from fire by ensuring you have a fire escape plan (see next section).

If you feel that you need some help or assistance with the above, there are many organisations that will support you through the process free of charge.

For details, go to the Help for Hoarders website where you can also download a helpful tips leaflet provided by the London Fire Brigade

You are more at risk from a fire when asleep. Most fires start in the kitchen or the lounge, so it’s a good idea to follow the bedtime checklist below before you go to sleep.

Example checklist (Gov.UK) (found within the ‘Fire safety in the home’ leaflet on page 23)

We want you, your family, friends and neighbours to be safe from fire in your home. To help you do this, watch the following short video (courtesy of Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service) which will highlight the risks in your home room by room and give you some advice on how to make it safer: Home safety video.

Print out the HFSC Self Checklist (PDF 437KB) or open it on your PC, tablet or smartphone.
Walk from room to room highlighting risks and use the advice points to make it safer.
If you want further advice use your PC, tablet or smartphone to follow the links to more safety information on our website.
Once you have done the check make sure everyone in the home is aware of the risks and what to do about them.
Make sure everyone in the home knows the escape plan and what to do in the event of a fire.
Practice the escape plan together to make sure it works and everyone knows it.
Share our links and advice with those you care about it and help them to stay safe too.
Visit our news page regularly to stay up to date with fire safety information.

If you have children why not make it fun and get them to help you spot the risks so that they develop an understanding about fire safety.

Drink driving, speeding, not wearing a seatbelt and using a mobile phone while at the wheel are the four primary causes of fatal and serious injury collisions in the UK.

In Northamptonshire, the Fire Service assists the Safer Roads Team and Highways Team to carryout ongoing campaigns to tackle each of these four hazards. Here are some points to remember:

Drink driving:

Don’t drink and drive. The only safe limit is none
You can still be over the limit the morning after
A drink driving conviction will stay on your licence for 11 years

Speeding:

Speeders can be fined up to 150 per cent of their weekly income, rather than the current 100 per cent.

Keep to the speed limit; it could mean the difference between life and death

Drive appropriately for the conditions; slow down when there is bad weather

Don’t assume it is safe to break the speed limit on rural roads because there is less traffic. There can be more hazards

Seatbelts:

Always wear a seatbelt, and make sure any passengers you are carrying are wearing a seatbelt
Make sure children are in the appropriate car/booster seat and strapped in correctly
Spending just one minute checking everyone is strapped in correctly could mean the difference between life and death

Mobile phone use:

If you’re caught using a handheld phone while driving, you will get six penalty points on your licence and a fine of £200. The increase in penalty points would mean an immediate ban for newly-qualified drivers who have a ceiling of six points for the first two years after passing the test.

Don’t use your mobile phone while driving – switch it off before you set off
Never call anyone if you know they are driving, and hang up if you call someone who answers and you realise they are driving
No conversation, text message or online post is more important than someone’s life

Every driver has the responsibility of driving safely and to the rules of the road.

For more road safety advice, see http://think.direct.gov.uk

The Green Cross Code may have been launched in the 1970s, but it still holds some key messages for pedestrians when it comes to road safety.

First find the safest place to cross

If possible, cross the road at: subways, footbridges, islands, zebra, puffin, pelican or toucan crossings, or where there is a crossing point controlled by a police officer, a school crossing patrol or a traffic warden.
Otherwise, choose a place where you can see clearly in all directions, and where drivers can see you.
Try to avoid crossing between parked cars and on sharp bends or close to the top of a hill. Move to a space where drivers and riders can see you clearly.
There should be space to reach the pavement on the other side.

Stop just before you get to the kerb

Do not get too close to the traffic. If there is no pavement, keep back from the edge of the road but make sure you can still see approaching traffic.
Give yourself lots of time to have a good look around.

Look all around for traffic and listen

Look all around for traffic and listen.
Look in every direction.
Listen carefully because you can sometimes hear traffic before you can see it.

If traffic is coming, let it pass

Look all around again and listen.
Do not cross until there is a safe gap in the traffic and you are certain that there is plenty of time.
Remember, even if traffic is a long way off, it may be approaching very quickly.

When it is safe, go straight across the road – do not run

Keep looking and listening for traffic while you cross, in case there is any traffic you did not see, or in case other traffic appears suddenly.
Look out for cyclists and motorcyclists travelling between lanes of traffic.
Do not cross diagonally.

For more road safety advice, see http://think.direct.gov.uk

Weather patterns in the UK usually mean that extreme conditions such as ice, snow and heavy rain can happen suddenly and can often leave drivers unprepared for what they might face on the roads.

Many drivers may fail to realise the extent to which extreme weather can affect aspects of driving such as visibility and stopping distances. Stopping distances can double in wet conditions and can increase ten-fold in ice and snow. Add to this the fact that reactions to hazards become impaired when drivers cannot see clearly, and the results can be fatal.

If possible, avoid driving in snow and other dangerous conditions such as fog, heavy rain and ice. Think about if there are any alternatives such as home-working arrangements; particularly if you live in a rural area.

Change the way you drive depending on the weather

Make sure you slow down if the road is wet, snowy or icy or if weather conditions are causing you any problems in seeing. Take corners slowly and drive more slowly if your view of the road is obscured in any way. Remember that fog can be patchy, so do not suddenly speed up when you reach a clear patch.
Do not drive too close to the vehicle in front as stopping distances are much greater in wet, icy or snowy conditions. You need enough time to stop safely.
In adverse weather, avoid harsh braking and acceleration. Take great care with any manoeuvres attempted.
Make sure you use lights whenever visibility is reduced. In dense fog, don’t forget to use front and rear fog lights, but switch them off if visibility becomes clear.
In snow and ice, use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin, but don’t let your speed become too high.
Always brake gently to avoid the wheel locking. When coming to a stop, get into a low gear earlier and let your vehicle slow down gradually.
If your vehicle skids, do not brake. Instead, ease off the accelerator and steer slightly into the direction of the skid until you feel like you have control again.
Do not attempt to cross flooded roads if you are not sure how deep the water is. Some vehicles only need about two feet of water to float.
If winds are strong, take extra care on open stretches of road and when crossing bridges. Keep your distance from motorcycles and high-sided vehicles as these can be more affected by this type of weather.
For sunny weather, make sure you keep sunglasses in the car and wear them to protect your eyes from the glare of bright sunshine.

The numbers of people choosing to cycle for fun, fitness or to get to work has increased by more than a quarter in twenty years and an incredible 3.2 billion miles are cycled on our roads every year.

Drivers should always keep on the alert for cyclists, particularly at junctions and when getting out of cars.
Motorists should always leave plenty of room for cyclists at traffic lights.
Cyclists should ensure they ride a door’s width from parked cars and should ride centrally in narrow lanes.
Drivers should make sure they indicate ahead of manoeuvring.
Advanced stop lines allow cyclists to remain visible by taking position at the front of the traffic. Drivers must stop at the first white line reached, if the lights are amber or red. Allow cyclists time and space to move off when the green light shows.
Cyclists should ride decisively and well clear of the kerb. They should be clear in looking and signalling to show drivers what they plan to do, making eye contact where possible so they know drivers have seen them.
Cyclists should avoid riding up the inside of large vehicles such as lorries or buses, where they may not be seen.
Lights should be used after dark or in poor visibility.
When cycling, it is sensible to wear clothing that is light coloured and reflective as this increases the chance you will be noticed.
Cycling helmets are recommended. This should be fastened securely and should conform to regulations.

Bikeability

Cycling is an effective sustainable mode of travel to school, however, all pupils cycling must be made aware of the need for safety and security when cycling. The National Standard Cycle Training is a progressive scheme that moves through three levels to give parents the reassurance that their children have the necessary skills and confidence to cycle to school. Children are encouraged to achieve all three levels of training. Bikeability is organised by our Highways Team in Northamptonshire. If you would like further information regarding Bikeability training please contact them on cycletraining@kierwsp.co.uk

Please visit the Think website for further information and safety tips on cycling.

Stage 1 – Initial application form

Applications opened on Wednesday 02 October 2019 and an application via Public Sector Jobs East was required to be completed.

Closing date for completed applications was midday on Thursday 17 October 2019

Stage 2 – Online tests

Every applicant will be sent an online SHL aptitude test to complete. SHL is a leading brand of psychometric tests and is usually comprised of multiple-choice questions.

The four tests we’ll ask you to complete will focus on:

Dependability and safety
Situational judgement test (firefighter talent)
Verbal reasoning
Calculation (numerical)

This stage will run from 18 October – 04 November 2019

Stage 3 – Job Related Tests (JRTs)

If you are successful through the SHL tests you will be invited to undertake the JRTs which will comprise of the following:

Hose running
Ladder lift simulator assessment
Equipment carry
Assembly ladder extension
Casualty evacuation
Ladder ascent descent
Equipment assembly
Ladder extension
Breathing Apparatus (BA)
Dead lift

More details on the various tests are available on our website.

This stage will begin the week commencing 11 November 2019

Stage 4 – Interview/assessment

If you are successful through the JRTs you will be invited to an interview. Your interviews will likely focus on:

Effective communication
Openness to change
Working with others
Commitment to excellence
Commitment to diversity and integrity
Personal impact

Interviews will take place the week commencing 25 November 2019

Stage 5 – Medicals/fitness test

If you are successful through the interviews you will be required to attend a medical with our Occupational Health, which will also include a fitness test.

Medicals will take place week commencing 02 December 2019

Stage 6 – Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and employment checks

You will need to complete a DBS check and then complete other pre-employment checks such as us acquiring your references, checking your ID and proof of address document.

Please note: If you are successful and do not possess the requisite qualifications in Maths and English, you will be supported and required to undertake the level 2 Maths and English qualification. You will also need to study for and pass Institute of the Fire Engineering (IFE) level 2 Operations Exams.

Two fires a day are started by candles, and along with incense and oil burners they are one of the biggest causes of fires within the home. Follow our tips to keep you and your home safe:

- Never leave a candle unattended

- Always use a suitable holder when burning candles and incense, they should be on a heat-resistant surface, and take care with tea lights, which get hot enough to melt plastic

- Scented candles turn to liquid in order to release their fragrance, so always burn them in a suitable glass or metal container that can withstand the heat of the liquid and ensure that the liquid cannot leak out

- Always extinguish all candles when leaving a room, before going to bed or if the flames become too large (trim the wick to prevent the flame from becoming too large)

- Keep lit candles out of reach of children and pets

- Place candles away from curtains and other flammable items and keep burning candles away from draughts, open windows and fans

- Don’t put them under shelves and make sure there’s at least one metre (three feet) between a candle and any surface above it

- Do not burn a candle longer than the manufacturer recommends

- Avoid lighting candles when alcohol is being consumed

- Use a proper snuffer to put them out as blowing them out can send sparks and hot wax flying

- Consider an extra smoke alarm in the rooms that candles are being burnt in

- Consider using battery-operated candles that give the ambience of the real thing, but are a lot safer

Around half of home fires are caused by cooking accidents. Here are some tips to prevent them and to keep you safe. If you are concerned that you or a family member are becoming forgetful or confused about cooking, we can give you further advice. Please visit our home safety checks and alarms page for more information on how you can carry out your own home safety check or how you can arrange for one of our home safety check visits. A helpful video has been provided by our colleagues at Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service on how to stay safe whilst cooking.

How to cook safely

Don’t leave your cooking unattended and don’t leave children in the kitchen alone when cooking
Avoid cooking when under the influence of alcohol
Keep flammable items away from the cooker and hob
Take care with electrics and keep leads and appliances away from water
Keep the oven, hob and grill clean and avoid the build-up of fats
Don’t put anything metal in the microwave
Take care when cooking with hot oil – it sets alight easily
If oil starts to smoke – it’s too hot, turn off the heat and leave it to cool, use a thermostat controlled electric deep fat fryer to prevent this

What to do if the pan catches fire:

Never throw water over it
Turn off the heat if it’s safe to do so and do not move the pan
Do not tackle the fire yourself
Get Out, Stay Out, Call 999

Faulty electrics (appliances, wiring and overloaded sockets) cause around 6,000 fires in the home across the country every year. For some handy tips, watch the following short video (courtesy of Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service):

How to avoid electrical fires

Make sure an electrical appliance has a British or European safety mark when you buy it.
Certain appliances (washing machines, etc.) should have a plug socket to themselves, as they are high powered.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and look for the CE mark that indicates chargers comply with European safety standards, ensure your furniture has the fire-resistant permanent label.
Check and replace any old cables and leads, especially if they are hidden from view.
Unplug appliances when they’re not in use.
Secure portable heaters and never use them for drying clothes.
Store electric blankets flat, rolled up or loosely folded to prevent damaging the internal wiring and unplug blankets before you get into bed, unless they have a thermostat control for safe all-night use.
Never buy second-hand blankets.
Read the electric blanket safety leaflet (PDF 1,054KB) for more information.

An extension lead or adaptor will have a limit to how many amps it can take, so be careful not to overload them to reduce the risk of a fire, try and keep to one plug per socket. Appliances use different amounts of power – a television may use a 3 Amp plug and a vacuum cleaner a 5 Amp plug for example. To check if your plug sockets are overloaded use the handy socket calculator.

The most common cause of fire death in the home is smoking. If you or someone in your home smokes, there are a number of simple steps you can take to prevent a fire from happening in your home:

Fire safety tips for smokers

Ensure you have a working smoke alarm on every floor of your home (more advice on smoke alarms can be found on our home safety checks and alarms page)
Take extra care when you’re tired, taking prescription drugs, or if you have been drinking
Always use a proper ashtray – never a wastepaper basket
Always keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children
Never leave a lit cigarette, cigar or pipe lying around – put them out, right out!

E-cigarettes fire safety tips

There have been a number of incidents in the UK caused by e-cigarettes or their chargers. To help reduce the risk, follow these safety tips:

Never leave e-cigarettes that are on charge unattended for long periods
Do not mix components of different e-cigarettes
Only use the charger supplied
Ensure you purchase your e-cigarette from a reputable source
Check the e-cigarette carries CE certification

Applications will only be considered if all of the following criteria are met:

You must be 18 years old (or older)
You must live in Northamptonshire
You must have a full driving licence due to the possibility of travelling between stations for cover work
You must be eligible to work in the UK
You must be able to pass a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

Please note: If you are successful and do not possess the requisite qualifications in Maths and English, you will be supported and required to undertake the level 2 Maths and English qualification. You will also need to study for and pass the Institute of Fire Engineering (IFE) level 2 Operations Exams.

If your application is successful you will be required to attend an initial training course at the Fire Service College which is based in Gloucestershire.

For more information please click here.

Key dates

Key dates for the latest Wholetime Firefighter campaign with Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service:

Applications open	02 October 2019
Applications close	17 October 2019 12:00
Online tests	18 October 2019 - 04 November 2019
Job Related Tests (JRTs)	Week commencing 11 November 2019
Interview/assessment centre	Week commencing 25 November 2019
Medicals/fitness assessment	Week commencing 02 December 2019
Induction begins	February 2020

Never touch the oven or fireplace unless a grown up is with you.

Image result for oven clipart Image result for fireplace clipart

Image result for unattended candle clipart
Don’t leave candles burning when you leave the room.

You should always keep an eye on naked flames wherever they are!

Don’t plug too many plugs into a socket.
This can cause an electrical fire.

Image result for overloaded socket

Once the application window has closed, applicants will be sent a link to an online aptitude test to complete and then if successful, applicants will follow the rest of the stages outlined as part of the selection process.

In order to be appointed you must successfully complete Job Related Tests (JRTs) which are part of the recruitment process. These are designed to test your strength, endurance, perception and manual dexterity. You would also need to pass a medical examination and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. For more information on the fitness level required to be a firefighter, have a look at this fitness guide produced by the government.

You need to be enthusiastic and committed as incidents are unpredictable and can involve a range of skills. No prior experience is necessary as full training and support is available and mandatory when you take on the role. A good level of physical fitness is also required and all male firefighters must be clean shaven to ensure the Breathing Apparatus (BA) seals correctly.

On completion of your initial training, you will be allocated a station and watch (Red, White, Blue or Green). As a Service, we recognise the value of family friendly shift patterns and the substantive shift pattern is a 2-2-4 pattern: 2-day shifts, 2-night shifts followed by 4 days off.

This will depend on the nature of the crime and whether the conviction is spent or not and will be at the discretion of the recruitment team. All applicants are required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check as part of the application process.

We are only accepting applications from those who live in the county of Northamptonshire. Proof of address will be required as part of the pre-employment checks.

So long as you are eligible to work in the UK you are welcome to apply to be a firefighter. You will also need to pass a numeracy and literacy assessment as part of the recruitment process.

Unfortunately, we are not able to facilitate this option at this current moment in time. However, we would encourage you to apply via the normal selection process.

There is no maximum age for being a firefighter, as long as you can meet the fitness requirements.

Body piercings would need to be removed due to Health and Safety laws. The best advice would be to remove all jewellery before attending an incident or physical training to prevent the possibility of physical harm caused by jewellery rising to very high temperatures in a short amount of time.

Unfortunately, owing to the large volume of applicants, we regret that we are unable to provide feedback during the initial stages of the selection process.

The questions you are asked during the interview will be competency-based. The aim of competency-based interviews are to explore how you have used specific skills in your previous roles (paid or voluntary) and what your approach to problems, tasks and challenges would be. This type of interview is based on the premise that past behaviour is a good predictor of future behaviour.
Should you be successful at the physical tests and invited for interview, you will have access to an interview practice booklet prior to attending.

Yes, you will have an eye test as part of the medical exam. If required, the Fire Service will equip you with prescription safety glasses.

You do not need any formal qualifications to become a firefighter, however, there will be a literacy and numeracy test as part of the selection process. If you are then successful and do not possess the requisite qualifications in Maths and English, you will be supported and required to undertake the level 2 Maths and English qualification. You will also need to study for and pass the Institute of Fire Engineers (IFE) level 2 Operations Exams.

Below are descriptions of the JRTs that you will be asked to complete as part of the recruitment process:

Breathing Apparatus (BA)
Casualty evacuation
Dead lift
Equipment assembly
Equipment carry
Hose running
Ladder ascent
Ladder extension
Ladder lift
Non-assessable ladder extension

Click on the links below to find out more about our recommended fitness and exercise routines:

Understanding the fitness programme
Building up a foundation
Developing your strength
Getting stronger and increasing conditioning
Reducing the risk of injury when exercising

The role of a firefighter is far more than just responding to fires and other emergencies, such as animal rescues, flooding and water rescue incidents.

Providing education programmes and safety messages to local schools, businesses, community groups and residents is an essential part of the firefighter’s role in helping to prevent accidents and limiting the injury potential of those that do occur.

Following initial training, firefighters undertake continuous development training and have the opportunity to train for different skill sets.

For information visit the Fire Service website.

Welcome to Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service