"EXCEPTIONAL individuals" are being sought to become on call firefighters to help save lives.

Tillicoultry Community Fire Station is seeking new recruits to join the ranks and respond to emergencies in Clackmannanshire and surrounding areas.

On call firefighters generally have primary employment and are paid a monthly retainer by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to be available to attend call-outs and take part in other paid activities.

They receive the same standard of training as their whole time colleagues and live or work close to the station, within five to eight minutes.

Watch Commander Colin Hutcheson is one one of those serving at Tillicoultry and is urging people to consider the role.

He said: “There is no such thing as a typical on call firefighter, we come from all walks of life, types of employment and backgrounds.

“We have on call firefighters across the service from stay-at-home parents to joiners, factory workers, farmers and engineers … the list goes on.

“We are seeking applications from people with a variety of life skills and experiences who want to help keep their communities safe from harm.

“Age isn't a barrier either, as long as candidates can pass the national test – which we support during the pre-employment period – then they can progress their application to become an on call firefighter and help to protect their community.”

The training standards are high but are in place to ensure that both firefighters and communities stay safe with applicants supported every step along the way.

Mr Hutcheson added: “On call firefighters are exceptional individuals who carry pagers and step up to protect their communities when they are needed most and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their commitment.

“We are calling on others to follow in their footsteps, learn new skills and work as part of a close team to help keep people safe.

“We are committed to representing the diverse communities we serve so we are urging people from all walks of life who have different skills and experience to apply for this role.”

The service is experiencing challenges in recruiting across Scotland but steps are being taken to increase the number of on call firefighters across the country.

Around half of the service's personnel are on call – on a retained or volunteer basis – and are paid a monthly wage for their commitment.

This core staff provides fire and rescue cover for around 85 per cent of the country in remote and rural areas and due to retirement or relocation, many roles are vacant.

Those interested can contact the watch commander by emailing colin.hutcheson@firescotland.gov.uk or call the station on the Monday drill night between 6.30pm and 9pm.

Visit firescotland.gov.uk/careers/ for more.