Essex County Fire & Rescue Service - Experts & Thought Leaders

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) has launched its recruitment drive for wholetime firefighters, offering people the opportunity to make a difference to keeping Essex safe. recruitment window The recruitment window opened on Tuesday 21 January and will remain open until 21 February, with successful candidates set to begin their training in June 2025. This is a chance to play a crucial role in protecting communities, saving lives, and keeping people in Essex safe. Whether people are looking for a rewarding career in the fire service or seeking to make a positive difference in their community, ECFRS is calling on motivated applicants to apply. Application criteria No prior firefighting experience is necessary, as full training will be provided.  To apply, candidates must meet the following minimum criteria: be eligible to work in the UK . be 18 years old on 1 February 2025. have a full UK driving license (manual).   have a GCSE pass at grade C or 4 (or above), or have attained Functional Skills (Level 2) in Maths and English. meet the vision and hearing criteria. new firefighter squad Chief Fire Officer/Chief Executive Rick Hylton said, “We’re excited to start recruitment for another squad of wholetime firefighters this year." “Our firefighters are team members, teachers, communicators, community-minded, protectors and role models. Firefighting is a diverse and rewarding career on the front line, saving lives." emergency response “But the role isn’t just about tacking fires or rescuing people from danger. It’s about speaking to people, engaging with communities, visiting schools, and offering safety advice.” “This recruitment drive is an essential step in making sure that we have the skilled and committed people needed to respond to emergencies and make Essex a safe place to live, work and travel.”

Both Braintree and Witham Fire Stations will be hosting recruitment taster sessions this month for those considering joining their team of on-call firefighters. Witham Fire Station will host its session on Saturday, 25 November, 2024, while Braintree Fire Station will hold its event on Sunday, 3 December, 2024. These sessions provide a unique opportunity to learn more about this vital role in the local community. Recruitment taster sessions During the taster sessions, attendees will meet with on-call firefighters who live or work within five minutes of their station. Attendees get to see first-hand what the job entails through live demonstrations Attendees get to see first-hand what the job entails through live demonstrations and equipment showcases, providing insight into the diverse and challenging responsibilities of an on-call firefighter in Essex. Watch Manager - Andy Mott from Witham Fire Station said: “Our station is fully crewed by on-call firefighters who respond to calls in their community whenever they’re needed, whether they’re at work or at home. When the pager goes off, we answer - it could be a fire, an animal rescue or a chemical incident. In 2023 alone, we attended 429 incidents, and this year, we’ve already responded to over 285 calls.” Criteria for prospective on-call firefighters In Braintree, the fire station currently has 12 on-call firefighters and is looking to expand its crew. For those who are over 18 years of age, physically fit, and live or work within five minutes of either Witham or Braintree Fire Station, they could be paid to serve the community as an on-call firefighter. To book a place at either event, book through the links below: Witham Fire Station, 25 November, 6.30pm - 9.30pm: withamfire.eventbrite.co.uk Braintree Fire Station, 3 December, 6pm - 9pm: braintreefire.eventbrite.co.uk

Orsett Fire Station has re-opened its doors after renovations and improvement work. On Friday 12 July, colleagues across Essex County Fire and Rescue Service joined firefighters from Orsett for a small station re-opening ceremony. Chief Fire Officer / Chief Executive Rick Hylton and Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Jane Gardner gave speeches and thanked everyone involved in the project, particularly Orsett's crews who have been relocated at Grays Fire Station. renovation and improvement Rick Hylton said, “I am delighted to welcome Orsett's crew back to their station. They have been responding effectively from Grays Fire Station while refurbishment work took place. We have used the closure as an opportunity to carry out renovation and improvement work throughout the station." "I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who has been involved in the work to get the station back. The crew is happy to be back in their station now.” station upgrade The station closed on 13 July 2023 following a fire in the bay. As part of the renovation work, the station has been upgraded to include more inclusive spaces, new training rooms, and newly wrapped bay doors. Firefighter Tony Cassar was the special guest at the event. He performed a ceremonial opening of the bay doors and joined the crew in the appliance as it left the station to a round of applause.

When a shortage of truck drivers resulted in empty motor fuel pumps in the United Kingdom, long queues formed and many motorists began panic buying. The situation induced motorists to hoard fuel, a practice that brings with it a long list of fire risks. Many fire departments in the United Kingdom provided stern warnings of the dangers. Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service advised anyone looking to store petrol at home to follow correct storage protocols. Hoarding additional quantities North Yorkshire fire chiefs reminded motorists that petrol and other fuels give off vapors that are highly flammable. Essex County Fire and Rescue Service urged motorists not to panic-buy fuel following a weekend of long queues at the pumps. Panicked motorists, concerned that the fuel supply will dry up completely Hoarding of fuel was also a factor earlier this year when a ransomware attack on the Colonial Pipeline in the United States slowed gasoline supply and resulted in long lines at fuel stations throughout the South and along the East Coast. Panicked motorists, concerned that the fuel supply will dry up completely, tend to hoard additional quantities of fuel as a precaution against running out. Ironically, an increase in hoarding is often the major cause of a shortage because demand exceeds the usual consumption level. Completely safer way Gasoline (petrol) should always be stored in a suitable container, such as a ‘safety can,’ away from any heat source, and in a place with direct access to ventilation and open air. Heat can cause excessive pressure and the release of vapors if fuel is stored improperly. In unventilated locations, the vapors may travel to an ignition source. Vaporization of less than one-half pint of fuel is enough to fill a home garage with explosive vapors. The fact is, despite any precautions, there is no completely safe way for consumers to store or hoard gasoline. It’s a dire truth for the woman in the United Kingdom who was recently seen filling up eight large jerry cans with fuel totaling £217 (almost $300). Tragic consequences in the past are a reminder of what is at stake. Plastic trash container There are limits to how much fuel can be stored in various jurisdictions Seven members of a California family were badly burned when they tried to store fuel in a plastic trash container in a bedroom closet. Additional dangers include the possibility of gasoline poisoning, often from siphoning, and inhalation of gasoline into the lungs. Inhaling even a small amount can cause death from chemical pneumonia. There are limits to how much fuel can be stored in various jurisdictions. In the United Kingdom, storage of up to 30 liters of petrol is permitted at home or at non-workplace premises. Larger amounts require notifying the local Petroleum Enforcement Authority (PEA). In the United States, storage of more than 5 gallons of gasoline is illegal in many areas. Rear-End collision Storage of extra fuel in the trunk, or boot, of a car, creates a risk of explosion if ignited by a spark or a rear-end collision. Dispensing fuel only into appropriate containers is also an issue. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Administration has warned consumers not to use plastic bags to collect gasoline. Several social media posts during the recent U.S. shortage showed people dispensing gasoline into plastic bags. Here are some additional precautions when storing motor fuel: Do not store fuel in living areas. Keep fuel out of reach of children. Do not fill containers beyond the designated capacity. Never pour fuel into drains or water.