New recruits join Cambs Fire at Wisbech and Cambridge

Callum Hodgkin, an on-call firefighter at Manea and Whittlesey, will join Cambridge fire station full time. (Image: Archant)

Rob Woodcock, 32, arrives having been a special constable with the police for four years.

Rob, who has a one-year-old daughter, has a background in television production having worked as a camera operator for Al Jazeera.

Callum Hodgkin, an on-call firefighter at Manea and Whittlesey, will join Cambridge fire station full time.

The 23-year-old has been with the fire service for a couple of years already and previously worked in bars and restaurants.

They are two of seven new recruits to join stations around the county.

Callum and Rob will soon be seen riding in the back of fire engines as he begins an operational career with the service.

It follows an intensive 11-week training course in Cardiff, delivered by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

The course put new recruits through their paces, learning how to deal with a range of emergency situations including fires, rescues from water and road traffic collisions.

Their training ended with a demonstration and pass out parade at Cardiff Gate, in front of their families and senior officers.

Chief fire officer Chris Strickland, who was in attendance at the pass out parade, said: “Much of the training so far has been focussed on preparing to respond to operational emergency situations, which requires a great deal of preparation.

“As modern day firefighters, the group must also get to grips with working proactively in the community, helping to educate residents and raise awareness of the dangers of fire.

“Our work in the community is crucially important as we often encounter some of the most vulnerable people in society.

“This role these new recruits will be fulfilling when they start on their watches is equally as vital and rewarding as our response work, as it is proven to reduce societal risk of deaths and injuries in fires and other emergencies.

“We wish this cohort of firefighters the best of luck and hope they enjoy helping us to make Cambridgeshire a safer place.”

Kevin Reynolds, chairman of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Authority, who was also at the ceremony, said: “With more than 800,000 residents to serve across the county, our firefighters have a challenging job but one that is extremely rewarding.”