A recruitment drive is being launched by Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service.

From Monday Cumbria County Council, which manages the fire service, will launch their first recruitment campaign in eight years for full-time firefighters.

With more than 90 per cent of current firefighters being white men, the service is particularly encouraging women and people from black and ethnic minority backgrounds and those who are LGBT to apply.

To help people find out more about the role of a firefighter the service is holding a series of taster days.

The taster days will allow people to have a go at the physical tests that form part of the firefighter selection process and chat to existing firefighters to find out more about the job.

Cumbria’s chief fire officer Paul Hancock said: "We will shortly be recruiting a new cohort of wholetime firefighters. We are hoping the programme of taster days will result in a broader range of applications which genuinely reflects the make-up of our local communities.

"Working for a modern fire and rescue service offers an exciting and rewarding career and we want to recruit people with a real commitment to improving the safety of their community."

Councillor Barry Doughty, who holds the county council's portfolio for fire and rescue, said: "This is the first time in eight years that we will be recruiting wholetime firefighters in Cumbria and we’re holding taster sessions around the county next week to help give people a better idea of what the job involves.

"Firefighters do a wonderful job keeping our communities safe and secure, and we want as many people as possible to come forward and help us find the very best new recruits."

The initial stages of the recruitment process will be online and can be accessed from 12pm on October 17. The application window will stay open until 12pm on October 31.

The taster sessions will happen at 11am to 1pm and 5pm and 7pm at:

  • Barrow Fire Station on Monday
  • Kendal Fire Station on Tuesday
  • Penrith Fire Station on Wednesday
  • Workington Fire Station on Thursday
  • Carlisle East Fire Station on Saturday, October 8 between 11am and 2pm

Anyone interested can just drop in at one of the sessions and are advised to allow between one hour and 90 minutes in order to get the best out of the event.