Anyone looking for an exciting career change can now apply to be a full-time firefighter in Norfolk, as recruitment for this lifesaving role has opened for the first time in three years.
Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service (NFRS) is hiring 16 new recruits, with eight due to start in April 2026 and another eight in 2027. The new recruits will be stationed in the county’s five wholetime stations in King’s Lynn, Great Yarmouth and Norwich (North Earlham, Sprowston and Carrow).
The application window opened on Monday 28 July and will close on Monday 25 August. Norfolk currently has around 150 wholetime firefighters – also known as full-time firefighters – working in shifts to ensure cover 24/7, 365 days a year.
Councillor Margaret Dewsbury, Norfolk County Council Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnerships, said:
“It’s hugely exciting that, for the first time since 2022, Norfolk is opening up the opportunity for new wholetime firefighters, one of the most competitive and sought after career paths on offer in the county.
We are lucky to have a group of extremely dedicated and accomplished firefighters in Norfolk who help keep us safe all year round, and it’s great that this will be added to with some fresh new talent over the next couple of years. Because it is such a popular career choice, we rarely have wholetime vacancies in Norfolk.”
Shortlisted applicants will take part in written, fitness, and verbal assessments, with final selections due to be made later this year. Each shortlisted candidate can request a ‘buddy’ – a current NFRS firefighter, crew manager or watch manager – who can answer questions about the selection process and the role.
Successful applicants will join the NFRS firefighters’ development pathway, starting with a 12-week course at the Service’s bespoke training centre. They will then join watches as development firefighters and complete a two-year apprenticeship to become fully competent. These apprenticeships are run through Norfolk County Council’s Adult Learning team.
Chief Fire Officer Ceri Sumner said:
“Being a firefighter is about much more than putting out fires: our crews attend a wide range of emergencies from road traffic incidents to water and flooding rescues. We are also involved in delivering prevention advice to schools. It’s a more highly varied, multi-skilled role than ever, and it’s a job with a real community focus.
We’re looking for a wide range of applicants who are as passionate about serving and representing the people of Norfolk as we are. The role can be incredibly challenging so we need people who are resilient and cope well in difficult situations. If you’re committed, physically fit, enjoy teamwork and want to have a rewarding job where you are supporting your communities, this could be the career for you.”
The vacancies have come about through retirements and promotions from staff who have, in some cases, given more than 30 years’ commitment to the job.
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