New On-Call Firefighters Join Communities Across Hampshire And Isle Of Wight

Eleven new on-call firefighters have completed their training and are now ready to respond to emergencies in their local communities across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

The graduates finished their initial training at Waterlooville Fire Station on Wednesday, learning essential skills like using pumps and ladders, with more advanced sessions planned to continue their development.

Among the new recruits is 18-year-old Tom Nobrega, a hardware store employee, who will be responding to call-outs from Odiham Fire Station.

He said:

"I wanted to do my bit to make my community safer.

"The training and support from family and my crew has been amazing. If you’re thinking about it, just go for it!"

Other new recruits include Colby Meredith at Freshwater on the Isle of Wight, Fiona Sutherland and Jason Duddy at Alton, and Chloe Gough and Brandon Owen at Havant.

They join more than 40 on-call firefighters who have started this year, ready to tackle fires, road traffic incidents, and other emergencies.

Lee Wood, Learning and Development Station Manager, said:

"On-call firefighters play a vital role in keeping communities safe.

"It’s fantastic to see this new group complete their training and start making a difference."

Those interested in joining can find out more about becoming an on-call firefighter and serving their local community.