On-call firefighters in England face mounting challenges amid efforts to maintain emergency coverage and address recruitment shortfalls. While on-call fire crews remain vital to many communities, concerns over staffing and funding are prompting some fire services to consider station closures or other cost-saving measures.

Yasmin Di Carluccio, an on-call firefighter since 2023 based at Hardley and Hythe stations in Hampshire, illustrates the demands and dedication of those in the role. Balancing her daytime job as a biscuit designer with fire service duties, Di Carluccio participates in rigorous weekly training, including navigating smoke-filled environments and practicing casualty rescues. Female firefighters represent a small proportion of on-call personnel—about 8.3%, compared to 10% among wholetime firefighters—but Di Carluccio says her treatment among colleagues is equal and that she meets the same physical standards.

Recruitment and retention pose significant challenges. Charly Melia, responsible for recruitment in North Yorkshire Fire Service, notes that although new recruits understand the need for physical fitness, many underestimate the role’s intensity and commitment. Last year, 65% of on-call firefighters who departed did so through resignation rather than retirement. Melia points to difficulties such as inconsistent attendance at training sessions as a key issue.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue has not planned any station closures, instead employing eight on-call firefighters as recruitment advocates seeking to bolster ranks. However, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service faces financial pressures that could force closures. Chief Fire Officer Andy Cole has expressed reluctance but acknowledged the necessity of balancing a £1.7 million budget shortfall, considering either cutting frontline stations or raising local council tax contributions.

Local campaigning efforts, such as the “Save Our Fire Stations” movement led by Alice Elliott, emphasize the importance of retaining on-call stations to protect public safety. Elliott cites her personal connection through her father-in-law, an on-call firefighter, and argues that budget cuts risk lives. Following a government review in June, all eight at-risk stations in Dorset and Wiltshire were granted temporary reprieves, contingent on additional funding measures and the absence of further budget reductions. Elliott called the outcome a "respite, not a resolution."

Cole, who also chairs the National Fire Chiefs Council’s on-call strategic group, acknowledges the sacrifices made by on-call firefighters, many of whom juggle firefighting with other careers. He recalled his own beginnings as an on-call firefighter in Castle Cary, relying on community ties among local workers. Yet, he points to the erosion of traditional employer support and insufficient public funding as factors undermining the system’s sustainability.

In contrast, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service has seen improvements through targeted initiatives under Phil Morris, head of their on-call improvement programme. By actively recognizing and valuing on-call firefighters through community events and enhancing financial incentives, including pay for training days and bonuses from an additional £1 million funding over three years, the service has expanded its on-call roster. Still, salary remains a concern for many, given the opportunity costs compared to other professions.

For firefighters like Di Carluccio, the role offers a profound sense of purpose despite its demands. She is pursuing a transition to a wholetime position, motivated by the intensity and fulfillment she finds in the job. “I’ll go until my body can’t take it any more,” she said, reflecting the dedication felt by many who serve as on-call firefighters across England.