Could you be a firefighter? Cornwall stations open their doors

Ever watched a fire engine go past and wondered whether you’d cope with the real thing? This month, you can find out.

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service is inviting people to get a taste of life as a firefighter before they apply, with a run of Have a Go sessions at four stations across the county throughout October.

What happens at a Have a Go session

Visitors can try out the equipment, learn about the physical and practical sides of the job, and talk directly with serving firefighters about what the work is really like.

Anyone aged 18 and over can book a place.

Kathryn Billing, Chief Fire Officer at Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service, said: “The Have a Go sessions give people the chance to see what being a firefighter is all about.

“If you’re looking for a new challenge and are passionate about protecting and serving your local community, come along and find out more.”

Dates and stations

Places can be booked through the Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service website. Sessions are taking place at:

• Tolvaddon Community Fire Station: Wednesday 14 October (6pm to 8pm)
• Bodmin Community Fire Station: Saturday 17 October (10am to 12pm and 2pm to 4pm)
• Falmouth Community Fire Station: Thursday 29 October (6pm to 8pm)
• St Austell Community Fire Station: Saturday 31 October (10am to 12pm and 2pm to 4pm)

When applications open

The sessions come ahead of a fresh round of fire service recruitment, with both on-call and wholetime roles on the way.

Applications for on-call firefighters open on Monday 23 November. Anyone hoping to become a wholetime firefighter will need to wait a little longer, with applications opening in January 2027.

More information about the events and the recruitment process is on the Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service website.