Close up west, Devizes retained fire station

A bbc documentary following the retained firemen of Devizes

[@Biffo1262]

As a retired fulltime fire officer who was in charge of one whole time crew and a retained crew for the second pump I can tell you just how much these people give up for their community. My retained crew were available for between 90 hours and 110 hours each week on top of their normal jobs and that was made up of their own free time as not a single one of them worked local enough to turn in from work. Our station area comprised peat land, private and large council estates, two large chemical plants, the Manchester Ship Canal with petrol tanker terminals, motorway network, busy commercial and public airfield with heliport, major trunk roads and large supermarkets. With one full time pump and one retained the retained were alerted every time and attended the station even though they may not be responding to the call. In busy grass fire periods or 'spate' conditions they may well attend or turn out up to times a night and then have to go to their own work the following day. My son was a mechanic and a member of the retained crew though he is now full time and coming up to retirement himself and I have seen the physically exhaustion he has gone through. Many full timers just do not appreciate just much these guys and girls give to the job and how much havoc it can have on family live. They certainly don't do it for the money as they won't be getting rich on retained earnings. This country simply could not function properly without them and many have paid the ultimate price. God bless all firefighters whatever part of the world you live in.....we all do the same job retained, unpaid, volunteer or career firefighter.

[@robwhitton7399]

Done 36 years in West Sussex a hell of a commitment!!sacrificing holidays to do courses etc, lot of pressure on you to be available, some brigades have it right and look after there retained others not so much

[@richardpotter712]

KFRS not so. Virtually no retained day cover in Kent since 2010 and they do nothing about it. Everyday, running wholetime pumps to stand by at retained stations 9-5, disgraceful really and if the public only knew half of it.

[@southeastandsouthcentralem0743]

What station were you at rob?

[@stevebuscombe7235]

My dad was retained in Devon for 30 years I know the feeling seeing him doing this job respect ❤️

[@peterstanford5535]

Great bunch of lads, what would we do without them, think they deserve a lot more than £13 per shout and so should the government of the day, thanks to you all once again for what you do for your community and all others like you, (my Mother served in the Brighton fire service in ww2)

[@dudeyfeb88coach]

This is like 1999 /2000 .He was finishing his public services

[@BIGTAYLORNI]

The system isn't fit for purpose, still relying on employers goodwill or lack of it or the disruption caused by staff leaving they just don't want. Public deserve better.

[@dudeyfeb88coach]

Ross Sheppard

[@jackshit3355]

What year is this

[@dudeyfeb88coach]

99/2000

[@jukereisefan8779]

C