Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service has launched a new recruitment campaign for wholetime firefighters as part of efforts to maintain frontline staffing across the county.
The latest recruitment drive comes as firefighters retire, move into promoted roles or continue their careers elsewhere in the country. The service said regular recruitment is necessary to plan ahead and maintain operational readiness, with the previous campaign taking place in spring 2024.
There are currently 222 wholetime firefighters working across six fire stations in Oxfordshire. Of those, 206 are male and 16 are female. Over the past year, crews have responded to more than 5,000 emergency callouts.
Matt Chapman said successful applicants need a broad range of personal qualities beyond physical readiness.
“What our brilliant crews have in common is self-reliance, confidence, respect, enthusiasm, team spirit and a willingness to be ready for anything when alerted to an emergency.”
He said firefighters must also be strong communicators, able to work with people from different backgrounds and age groups, including elderly residents, young adults and school children.
In addition to emergency response duties, firefighters regularly deliver presentations, visit homes and support prevention work by listening to residents and offering safety advice.
The county council is also hosting online question-and-answer sessions for people interested in learning more about the recruitment process. Joining details are available through the council’s website.
The sessions are scheduled as follows:
- Thursday 26 March 2026, 7.00pm to 8.00pm
- Monday 30 March 2026, 12.30pm to 1.30pm
- Monday 30 March 2026, 6.30pm to 7.30pm
Chapman said the role offers long-term personal and professional development.
“Joining our fire and rescue service opens up a wide range of opportunities that many people don’t have the chance to experience.
“You develop new skills through fantastic training, work in a wide range of exciting and challenging situations and make a real difference throughout your working life.
“We’re looking for people who care about others and who are ready to play their part in supporting our communities. There’s far more to being a firefighter than most people realise; it’s about character, teamwork and commitment.”
Applications form part of the county’s continued effort to ensure emergency crews remain prepared to serve communities across Oxfordshire.
