At midnight on 31 March 1948 the National Fire Service was disbanded, and on 1 April 1948 Buckinghamshire Fire Brigade came into service.
On 1 April 2018, to mark the 70th anniversary, former Station Commander John Bull published “The Evolution of Buckinghamshire Village and Town Fire Brigades Into The Buckinghamshire Fire Brigade.”
John’s 30-year career with Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service started in January 1981 when he became a retained firefighter at Beaconsfield Fire Station.
He became a wholetime firefighter at High Wycombe Fire Station in 1982, transferred back to Beaconsfield in 1989 and worked his way up the ranks to become an ADO (Assistant Divisional Officer, later called Station Manager and now Station Commander) in 2004 before retiring in January 2011.
“Our values guide our actions and decisions every day. Integrity, compassion, and trust are the cornerstones of who we are and what we stand for. These values represent the foundation of our Service and will guide us in everything we do. Our brand personality is brought to life through the below behaviours. They reflects our commitment to professionalism, connection, ambition, and empowerment.”
We are so much more than fighting fires! While it is true to say responding to emergency incidents like fires and road traffic collisions is at the very core of what we do, our firefighters and wider support teams work within the community keeping our vulnerable safe.
Some are surprised to know we have a wide range of support teams from HR, appliance workshop, to Community Safety Technicians that make sure our pumps get out the door and help prevent emergencies from starting.
Where are your fire stations located?
We have 19 strategically placed stations across Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. They are located at (listed in alphabetical order): Amersham, Aylesbury, Beaconsfield, Brill, Broughton, Buckingham, Chesham, Gerrards Cross, Great Missenden, Haddenham, High Wycombe, Marlow, Newport Pagnell, Olney, Princes Risborough, Stokenchurch, Waddesdon, West Ashland and Winslow. Details about our fire stations and their locations can be found on our ‘About Us‘ page.
My smoke alarm is beeping what do I do?
A beeping or chirping smoke alarm can indicate a fault with the battery or sensor within it. Although the smoke alarm may continue to work in the short term when the beep is intermittent, the cause of the beeping needs to be investigated and if necessary the smoke alarm should be replaced.
What is the fitness test for Wholetime Firefighters?
As part of our Wholetime Firefighters fitness tests you will be required to complete the Bleep Test to a level 8.6, as well as the completion of 3 strength tests. These include Equipment Grip and Carry (testing aerobic endurance and grip), Ladder Haul-Aloft (testing upper body strength) and a Push-Pull test. If you are considering applying, it is advisable that you start working on your fitness and strength in advance. If you are successful at the early stages of the process, you will then be ready for the fitness test. It is also important that you maintain your fitness.
I have a disability – can I apply for a Support Staff role?
Yes you can. We welcome all applications. As part of the recruitment process, you will be asked if you have a disability, and asked to give details of the type of adjustments you may require in order to take part in the selection process and to fulfil the role you are applying for, should you be successful. Each case will be considered on an individual basis and, where reasonable adjustments can be made, your application will be progressed.
How do I apply to be a Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service On-Call Firefighter?
At stage two of the recruitment process you will be given a link to our online application form. This happens after you have attended one of our On-Call awareness evenings. You can sign up for an awareness evening here.
What stations are recruiting On-Call Firefighters?
You can find out which On-Call fire stations are recruiting by clicking here.
