Equal opportunities
Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service is an equal opportunity employer and applications from people of any colour, race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status or disability are welcomed.

Retained Duty System (RDS) firefighters are a vital part of today’s fire and rescue service, providing an efficient, cost-effective service that gives emergency cover to more than 90 per cent of the UK.

In Buckinghamshire, RDS firefighters mainly provide cover in rural areas but there are units located in the busier urban areas to provide fire cover alongside wholetime colleagues. We currently have RDS firefighters from a wide range of backgrounds and employment situations, from self-employed people to women who are able to devote daytime cover while the children are at school.

RDS crews will be called on to attend the same range of incidents as their wholetime counterparts at any time of the day or night. In return they are paid a retaining fee along with an additional payment for every incident attended. They are also required to attend a training night for two hours every week.

To be an RDS firefighter you need to be physically fit, have good verbal communication skills, enjoy team working and live and/or work within five minutes’ travelling time of the fire station.