Frome Fire Station

29/05/2026

Our colleagues at Shepton Mallet Fire Station are at the Bath & West show 2026.

If you’re going to the show pop along and say Hello 👋.

They are their giving advice and promoting recruitment 🚒

08/05/2026

Incident - Commercial Premise Fire
07/05/2026 17:57
Handlemaker Road, Frome

2 pumps from Frome and an aerial platform were mobilised to reports of a large fire in the area. Crews quickly identified the industrial unit that was issuing flames and smoke.

A further 4 appliances were requested due to the size of the fire and the need for personnel, these came from Shepton Mallet, Trowbridge, Westbury and Warminster, the command support unit from Street was also mobilised. The fire was extinguished using 12 breathing apparatus (BA), 3 main jets, 2 hosereel jets and the aerial ladder platform.

The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental.

To all Frome residents: we’re currently dealing with a fire at Marston Trading Estate. If you live nearby, please keep your windows and doors closed until the fire has been safely extinguished.

18/03/2026

Great to have the road safety team at the station last night targeting 16-24 year olds who are our highest risk on the roads.

17/02/2026

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🤝 🇫🇷 5️⃣0️⃣👩‍🚒🚒

Firefighters celebrate 50 years of twinning

Firefighters in Frome have celebrated 50 years of twinning with a French fire crew, marking five decades of partnership.

Frome Fire Station is twinned with the fire station in Château-Gontier-sur-Mayenne. The twinning originated when a delegation from Frome Fire Station, alongside police and ambulance representatives, visited France to strengthen ties following the UK’s entry into the European Union.

The French crew visited Frome in December to mark the partnership, which began in 1975, with Frome’s firefighters expected to travel to France in September.

Watch manager Jason Collier said, “That first visit sparked a tradition of cultural exchange and professional collaboration that continues to this day.”

Over five decades, annual exchanges have become a cornerstone of the relationship, with Frome firefighters joining their French counterparts each December for the Festival of St Barbe, the patron saint of firefighters.

Read more here: https://buff.ly/IvOSqc3

Pictured: Frome and French fire fighters in December

14/02/2026

This is Ff Nick East, one of our new recruits on his basic firefighting course, along with other Devon and Somerset new recruits.

Nick will soon be on the run and trained with specific skills to be able to respond to emergency calls and be an important part of the crew.

Great job Nick! Keep up the good work!

10/02/2026

Frome and Shepton Mallet Fire Station were invited to the multi agency exercise in Bradford On Avon organised by DWFireRescue.

7 different scenarios were in play with 3 different fire services and many other organisations.

06/02/2026

✅ Apply today: https://www.dsfire.gov.uk/careers/vacancies/call-firefighter-vacancies-1

06/02/2026

Firefighter training

Training is your first step into the firefighter world. Once you’ve completed these courses you’ll be well on your way to becoming a fully competent firefighter.

For on-call firefighters, these courses will take place across the timeframe detailed next to each. You’ll be sent all the details of when the courses take place, but here’s what you can expect to do on each one.

CORE SKILLS TRAINING

14 days (on-call firefighters only)
This initial course will give you a baseline to be able to ride appliances. Before attending the initial course you will attend an induction day approximately two weeks prior to the course starting.

This course covers:

Initial core skills

🚒 Squad drilling
🚒 Words of command
🚒 Vehicle marshalling
🚒 Knots and lines
🚒 Safe working at height (you'll do another course on working in Confined spaces at height at a later date)
🚒 Pitching of the various ladders used
🚒 Pumping using main and portable pumps (theoretical and practical)
🚒 Water safety and rescue awareness

Road traffic collision

🚒 Role of fire service at road traffic collisions
🚒 SRS (supplementary restraint systems) identification and hazard management
🚒 Setting up organisation of the incident scene
🚒 Stabilisation of unsafe vehicles
🚒 Glass management
🚒 Various cutting techniques with both hand and hydraulic tools
🚒 Immobilisation and extrication of casualties.

BREATHING APPARATUS (BA) TRAINING

10 days (on-call firefighters only)
This course covers:

🚒 Information about breathing apparatus and how to use
🚒 How to use the breathing apparatus control board
🚒 Safe movement in heat and smoke
🚒 Casualty handling
🚒 Use of guidelines
🚒 Ventilation (PPV)
🚒 Fire chemistry
🚒 Branch techniques
🚒 Gas-tight suits.

These training courses are up to 12 personnel from all different stations across the two countries.

Once you BA training is complete you will be an operational firefighter and will form part of the crew attending emergencies.

There are some other courses that are required to fulfil your role but these are one/two day courses

🚒 Water Rescue
🚒 Confined Space
🚒 Casualty Care

You'll then be on a development programme to enhance and perfect the new skills that you have learnt over a 18/24 month period before you become a competent firefighter with a long career in the fire service👨‍🚒

05/02/2026

Application process for on-call firefighters

Thank you for your interest in working at Frome Fire Station and for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service. We are encouraging people who are interested in joining to meet your local crew and learn more about what becoming an on-call firefighter would involve. You can do this by contacting us on the details below

📞 Call: WM Jason Collier on 07912 143051
📧 Email: [email protected]
📱 Facebook: Frome Fire Station
🏠 Drop in: Frome Fire Station, Keyford, Frome – Thursdays between 19:00 and 21:00

There are a few steps to becoming a firefighter. This timeline will take you through the key stages in our application process and what to expect.

STEP ONE - Application

The first step to becoming a firefighter is the application form. This is where you fill in your personal details and explain how you meet the eligibility criteria.

It's here that you’ll need to be clear about the cover you’re able to provide. The candidates that match the cover that we need at the time will then be brought forward.

Initially, you must only submit one application. When you apply you will be asked to input your National Insurance number in your application form which we will use to identify multiple applications.

Seven top tips to ace your application
No matter what role you apply for in the Service, the first step to your dream role is completing our application form. You’ll need to show how you have the personal qualities, attributes and experience needed to do the job. It’s your opportunity to really shine.

🚒 Research the organisation and study the advert. You want your passion and enthusiasm for the role to shine through.
🚒 Use sub-headings to make it clear which part of the job specification you’re demonstrating. This will also help you keep track of the areas you’ve answered.
🚒 Give recent examples and take responsibility for them by using ‘I’ instead of ‘we’ or ‘they’. Own your achievements! Remember that examples don’t need to be job-related, as long as they are relevant to the role.
🚒 Use the STAR method to help structure your examples. Set out the situation, the task, the action you took and the result.
🚒 Keep it concise; using unnecessary words or repetition will use up valuable word count. Quality is far more important than quantity.
🚒 Check, check and check again – make sure that you’ve proof read your application for spelling or grammar errors.
🚒 Ask a family member or friend to take a look at your application. A fresh pair of eyes can help spot any mistakes or help you clarify what you mean.

✅ Apply today: https://www.dsfire.gov.uk/careers/vacancies/call-firefighter-vacancies-1

STEP TWO - Online tests

If you are unable to evidence Maths and English GCSE Grade C/4 or higher, then you will be required to complete two online ability tests in mathematics and verbal reasoning.

You’ll receive an email link inviting you to take the test, with practice tests too. You can have a go at the practice tests as many times as you like.

STEP THREE - Interview

Now it’s time for the interview. This is done face-to-face, and you’ll be asked about your experience, knowledge and skills. It’s here that we want to see whether you’ve got the qualities we’re looking for.

STEP FOUR - Fitness test and practical assessments

This element will not only assess your fitness, but your alignment to our core values and your conduct on the day. An important part of being a firefighter is making sure you have a good level of fitness. We assess this through a bleep test.

You'll also do practical assessments, involving the following:

🚒 Ladder lift
🚒 Ladder climb
🚒 Equipment assembly
🚒 Equipment carry
🚒 Breathing apparatus and confined space

STEP FIVE - Medical and pre-employment checks

We’ll carry out a medical and further fitness assessment to make sure you’re able to do the role. This includes:

🚒 Height and weight measurement to give an idea of general health
🚒 Blood pressure test
🚒 Urinalysis
🚒 An eye test (with and without glasses if you wear them)
🚒 A breathing test to check your lung function
🚒 A hearing test
🚒 V02 max fitness assessment.

You will attend a medical facilitated by our occupational health provider. They will ask questions about your health and any disabilities or medical needs you may have. All cases are looked at individually while following professional medical guidance.

Our fitness advisers will carry out a fitness assessment as part of the medical called a VO2 max test. You will jog on a treadmill wearing a facemask while connected to an analyser. The gradient and speed will gradually increase. This will measure your lung capacity. This test equates to level 8.8 on the bleep test.

You'll also complete pre-employment checks which will include:

🚒 Right to Work
🚒 Minimum of three years of references
🚒 Driving licence check
🚒 Standard DBS check

STEP SIX - Contract

Following the medical and pre-employment stage, once everything is cleared, we will confirm an initial recruits' course date and you’ll receive a contract of employment.

CONGRATULATIONS 🥳

Once you've reached this stage, it's time to celebrate!

04/02/2026

Benefits of on-call firefighters to businesses

You might be surprised to know that on-call firefighters make up 90% of emergency cover in the UK. They’re an invaluable part of society.

Whether you're an employer looking for more information on how it all works, or you're an employee who needs help explaining the benefits to your workplace, we're here to help.

Are you thinking about becoming an on-call firefighter, but worried about how your employer might react? Or perhaps a member of your staff has expressed an interest in joining the Service, and you’re not quite sure how they’ll balance it with their day-to-day role?

Employing on-call firefighters can bring benefits to your business, such as transferable skills and good public relations within your community.

Seven ways on-call firefighters bring employers value

Transferable skills
Not only will on-call firefighters learn practical skills, but they’ll also pick up many more that will help them in their main role. Using initiative, communicating quickly and keeping calm in a crisis are just some of the things they’ll fine-tune as a firefighter.

Emergency skills
Firefighters learn first-aid to a high standard. Not only will this keep staff members safe, but it also contributes to legal obligations for first aid cover, cutting the cost of training.

Large goods vehicle training
Some firefighters are trained to drive Large Goods Vehicles (LGV’s) and also receive Emergency Fire Appliance Driver (EFAD) training which is very similar to an advanced driving test, raising their awareness of road conditions.

Manual handling training
All firefighters are trained by a recognised instructor in the correct procedures when lifting or moving items, the training involves learning simple techniques that could prevent injuries occurring, thus potentially reducing time lost at work through sickness.

Help with health and safety
Risk assessments and fire hazards are all part of the training for firefighters. These skills can help support health and safety officers and improve the safety of all staff.

Personal skills
Staff who can fulfil their ambitions and potential are usually happier and more productive in the workplace. Firefighters must be highly motivated and this motivation will help them in everything they do. As they have to respond to a range of emergencies, they’ll also gain the confidence to manage challenges in their main jobs too. Being a firefighter takes commitment and energy, so you can be sure that this commitment will carry on in the workplace.

Good PR
Supporting the Fire Service shows provides great local reputation for employers and their staff.

How does it impact businesses?
On-call firefighters only respond to emergency calls, so this means they could be called out any time of the day or night.

This means that an agreement between the employer and employee needs to be reached, so that they can be released from work when incidents occur. But on-call firefighters will only be called out if they’re booked as available.

Whether you’re a potential new recruit or employer, if you’d like us to help support these conversations and answer any questions, then we’d be happy to help.

Have any questions?
Get in touch - we'd be happy to have a chat and answer any questions you have email us at [email protected]

We'd also like to thank all existing businesses that support our on-call firefighters as without your support we wouldn't be able to protect our community 👏