On-call firefighters play a critical role in the United Kingdom’s fire and rescue services, particularly outside major urban centers, but their numbers have been declining significantly in recent years. These retained firefighters typically have other full-time employment and respond to emergencies from home or workplace when paged, providing essential coverage for many rural and semi-rural areas.
As of March 2024, on-call firefighters constitute roughly 36 percent of the country’s total firefighting workforce, numbering 7,967 in England. They serve at 978 fire stations, accounting for about 70 percent of all stations in the country, with 737 stations relying solely on on-call staff. In contrast, full-time firefighters exclusively staff only the London and West Midlands fire services.
Despite their importance, the number of retained firefighters has fallen by 26 percent since 2014, a sharper decline than the 13 percent decrease seen among full-time firefighters over the same period. This reduction has had a direct impact on service coverage in more remote locations, leading to challenges in maintaining rapid response times and prompting the closure of 36 on-call fire stations between 2010 and 2024.
The role demands significant personal sacrifice and flexibility. On-call firefighters typically commit between 80 and 120 hours per week to availability, often balancing this duty with other employment. Compensation remains relatively modest; a recent survey by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) estimated that an on-call firefighter available for 90 hours per week receives an annual retainer of approximately £3,700—equivalent to less than 80 pence per hour and about 10 percent of the pay of a full-time firefighter. Additional payment includes a £5 disturbance fee and an average hourly rate of £17.75 during active callouts. The NFCC estimates that retaining these part-time firefighters saves fire services more than £1 billion annually compared to employing additional full-time staff.
The effectiveness and dedication of on-call firefighters are evident in numerous emergency responses, including a notable incident in October 2022. A fire crew from the Maiden Newton station, staffed by on-call firefighters, arrived within 11 minutes at the scene of a serious road traffic collision on the A37 near Dorchester. The team provided critical first aid, including defibrillation and oxygen therapy, to a severely injured six-year-old girl, Lila-Claire Lambert, helping to stabilize her until the air ambulance arrived. The firefighters involved included individuals working in various professions by day, such as factory work and helicopter engineering.
As the on-call firefighting workforce continues to shrink, concerns persist about the long-term sustainability of fire and rescue coverage outside major cities. The challenges of recruitment and retention, coupled with funding constraints, have placed many rural fire stations at risk, underscoring the need to address the pressures facing this vital component of the UK’s emergency response infrastructure.