Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service is looking for two new Fire Control operators – so can you be the calm, reassuring voice that helps to keep our communities safe?
Our operators work from the Fire Control room in Daventry and receive all the 999 calls to the Fire Service in the county.
Fire Control support callers for a wide range of incidents including fires, road collisions, chemical spills, flooding and rescuing trapped people.
They gather as much information from the caller as possible and evaluate the situation to decide on the best course of action – including on how many fire engines to send to incidents.
Izzy Benstead, 26, (pictured below) has worked in Fire Control for more than three years now. She was attracted to the role as it combined her people skills with being able to have a positive impact in the community.
She said: “We’re the first point of call when someone calls 999. We gather all the critical information and then assess the situation on what resources we feel are needed for that incident type. We’ll then stay on with the caller while firefighters are on the way so we can get as much information from them as possible.
“Once the crews arrive, our job doesn’t stop. From that point we support firefighters at the scene and deal with requests – whether it’s for extra appliances or crews, or if they need welfare help. In many ways we’re the heart of the Fire Service, as we deal with the incident from start to finish.”
Izzy is now encouraging people to apply for the role if they are community minded, want to make a difference and can work as part of a team.
She said: “I always wanted to do a meaningful role with a purpose. Even though I’m not physically at the scene with the fire crews, I can help make a difference by being a calm, reassuring voice when someone is having the worst day of their life.
“Communication and decision making under pressure are important skills, and you need to be able to work as part of a team.
“But I’d just encourage people to apply. If you’re looking for a fast-paced environment, something that is different every day and you want to be able to have a positive impact on people’s lives – then this is the job for you.”
To find out more and apply, please click here.
