Fifteen years after being rescued from flooding as a child, a Rossington man has joined the same on-call firefighting crew that saved him.
Mason Stead, 19, was one of five firefighter recruits who graduated from their intense training course earlier this month. He is now an operational firefighter at Rossington Fire Station, responding from home or work when people in the community need him and the crew. Mason, who was four years old when rescued from the 2007 floods, says he has dreamt of being a firefighter ever since that moment.
Rossington crew
The training course we’ve been on over the last few months has been challenging, in every sense"
“Being rescued from the floods all those years ago isn’t something I’ve ever forgotten, and since that moment I have dreamt of being a firefighter and being able to help someone else in their hour of need like the Rossington crew did for me,” said Mason Stead.
He adds, “The training course we’ve been on over the last few months has been challenging, in every sense, but to complete it is the most rewarding feeling in the world. I’m extremely proud to have passed the course and now be a part of the Rossington crew that does such good work in the community.”
Latest recruitment window
The service is currently recruiting for on-call firefighters at Askern, Rossington, and Penistone–with officers urging anyone interested to register quickly, as time is running out. This latest recruitment window runs until the end of March, with the next on-call recruitment drive taking place in September this year.
On-call firefighters have the same high standard of training as full-time firefighters, but they operate on a ‘part-time’ basis and respond either from home or a place of work when alerted by a pager.
Latest recruitment drive
“Our on-call staff are ordinary people who do an extraordinary job. Whilst their contracts may be part-time, their commitment is so much more than that,” said Station Manager - Chris Tyler, who oversees on-call recruitment for the service.
He adds, "This latest recruitment drive has come off the back of some huge success in recent years–seeing us go from seven stations with vacancies to only three. For people who live within these three station areas, it’s a massive opportunity to take on a rewarding role that will see you serve your community and earn extra cash.”
Anyone interested in joining the service as an on-call firefighter is encouraged to first register their interest in a role. Please note that must live or work within a five/six minute travel time of the station to be considered for a role.