Fitness is a key part of being a firefighter, whether you’re on-call or wholetime. In this episode, we speak to Amanda, our Service Fitness Advisor, about everything you need to know to get fit for the fireground.

We cover how to prepare for the firefighter fitness test, tips for staying hydrated and fueling your body properly, and we bust some common firefighter fitness myths along the way.

Whether you’re thinking about applying or just curious about the role, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you perform at your best.

Links to Websites/Resources discussed in the episode:

• Bleep Test TikTok
• Chester Treadmill Test TiKTok
• Weights/Strength required (scroll down to On-call firefighter fitness requirements to see Strength Test)

If you’re interested in finding out more about on-call firefighting at LFRS and would like to register your interest, please head to our website www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/oncall.

For more information about wholetime firefighters at LFRS, head over to www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/wholetime.

And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.

Have you ever been curious about what it’s like to be an on-call firefighter, what the fitness test involves, and how to apply for the position?

With recruitment for on-call firefighters opening soon, we’ve put together a podcast episode featuring a conversation with On-call Firefighter Sue Ward, about the ins and outs of the role.

On-call firefighters are community members who live or work near an on-call fire station and can quickly respond to emergencies by crewing a fire engine - usually arriving at the station within 5 to 8 minutes.

The service employs people from all walks of life in the role, ranging from self-employed tradespeople, stay-at-home parents to employees of small businesses and large, well-known organisations. They are paid for their time and are professionally trained firefighters who work alongside full-time colleagues to respond to a wide range of incidents from road, rail or air crashes, to floods, fires, chemical spills or rescuing people trapped in confined spaces.

Our applications open on Monday 2nd June, and close on Friday 27th June, with training courses beginning in October. If you’re interested in finding out more about on-call firefighting at LFRS and would like to register your interest, please head to our website www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/oncall

And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.

In this heartfelt episode of Out of the Ashes: Stories from Lancashire, we sit down with Chief Fire Officer Justin Johnston as he prepares for retirement after an extraordinary 30-year career in the fire service.

Justin discusses the challenges of modern firefighting, including responding to climate-driven emergencies, adopting cutting-edge technology like drones and AI, responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, and championing equality, diversity, and inclusion within the service.

He also shares leadership insights, career-defining moments, and plans for the future, including supporting fire service research and spending more time with family—and his dog, Milo.

And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.

In episode 9, we’re shining a light on a surprising but incredibly impactful area of our work at Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service—the positive influence we have on children and young adults through our community programs. We’re particularly focused on the King’s Trust Programme, previously known as the Prince’s Trust Programme, which we’ve been proudly delivering for 23 years.

The highlight of this initiative is the Team Programme, a 12-week, full-time course designed to help young people aged 16 to 25 build confidence, motivation, and practical skills. Since its launch in April 2001, we’ve supported over 7,000 young people in our local communities, and we now offer more of these programmes than any other fire and rescue service in the UK.

In this episode, we're joined by three special guests: Caroline Hooson, Youth Engagement Coordinator at Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service; Karolina, a Prince’s Trust Support Worker; and Iqraa, who recently completed the programme. Together, we’ll explore the life-changing impact of the Team Programme, hear Iqraa’s personal story, and discuss how the programme equips young people for success—both in their personal lives and future careers.

For more information about the programme, please visit: www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/princes-trust

Links to Resources discussed in the episode:

• Iqraa's article - WORK EXPERIENCE: Iqraa's Time at Colne Life HQ • Colne Life Magazine

This episode was recorded in August and September of 2024. Please note, in October 2024, the Prince's Trust changed their name to The King's Trust, reflecting our Royal Founding President's continued dedication to our work.

And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.

In episode 8, we’re joined by three expert guests: Esma, Senior Business Continuity and Emergency Planning Officer at Lancashire Fire and Rescue Services; Emergency Planning and Risk Manager, Julie Ferguson from Lancaster University; and Dharmesh Nayee, Emergency Planning Officer at Lancashire County Council. Together, we dive into a topic that’s vital for every business, no matter its size or industry—Business Continuity Planning, or BCP for short.

We explore what a Business Continuity Plan is, how to begin creating one for your business, and the best ways to put it into practice.

For more information about all things Business Fire Safety, please visit: www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/safety/business-safety

Links to Websites/Resources discussed in the episode:

• The Flood Hub
• Lancashire Resilience Forum
• Environment Agency Section of Flooding on the Government website

Remember, it's not just about protecting your business, it's about protecting your employees, your customers, and your future.

And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.

As we'll soon be opening up recruitment for on-call firefighters, in this episode we will be discussing the topic of the role of on-call firefighters with On-call support officer Adam Wagstaff and on-call firefighter Leanne Walker.

On-call firefighters are members of our community living and working in Lancashire who often have another job but also respond to emergencies from home or work when needed. They must live or work close to an on-call fire station and be able to respond quickly to crew the fire engine; generally being able to get to the station within 5-8 minutes.

The service employs people from all walks of life in the role, ranging from self-employed tradespeople, stay-at-home parents to employees of small businesses and large, well-known organisations. They are paid for their time and are professionally trained firefighters who work alongside full-time colleagues to respond to a wide range of incidents from road, rail or air crashes, to floods, fires, chemical spills or rescuing people trapped in confined spaces.

Our applications open on Monday, June 17, and close on Sunday, July 7, with training courses beginning in November. If you’re interested in finding out more about on-call firefighting at LFRS and would like to register your interest, please head to our website www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/oncall.

And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.

In Episode 6, we speak to Community Safety Advisors Faz and Farzana and discuss safety during Ramadan.

This celebration is held during the 9th month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Ramadan marks a time of fasting for Muslims all over the world. People who observe Ramadan abstain from food and drink from dawn until dusk, only eating one meal before sunrise and another after sunset. This year it is approximately celebrated from the evening of 10th March until 9th April, with Eid being celebrated around the 11th April.

Together we discuss what their Ramadan celebrations look like with their families, advice on how to stay safe in the kitchen whilst cooking and the importance of having a working smoke alarm and an evacuation plan.

For more information about safety during Ramadan, please visit www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/ramadan. If you'd like to book a home fire safety check, please visit www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/home-fire-safety

And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.

In Episode 5, we are celebrating International Women's Day (Friday 8th March), this is a global day celebrating the achievements of women. In the episode we speak to Group Manager Caroline Harrison and Watch Manager Sarah Holden and discuss this year’s theme which is inspiring inclusion.

The episode explores their experiences of being a female firefighter and motherhood, the fitness levels and recruits course required and how you could prepare and what International Women's Day means to them.

And, who knows, we may see more and more women realising what they are capable of and encourage them to apply for a role they didn’t previously think they could do.

And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.