Exciting firefighter role opens up in Carlow with deadline to close very soon
Do you have what it takes to be Carlow’s newest firefighter?
Carlow fire and rescue service now has a retained firefighter role available in Hacketstown, Carlow.
The deadline for the role is soon approaching, landing on 12 noon on Friday, 31st July 2026.
Retained firefighters work on a part-time basis and membership of the fire service is voluntary and a firefighter may resign at any time if he or she wishes, having provided statutory notice.
The appropriate retaining fee and the hourly rate for attendance at fires and drill sessions will be paid according to the Approved National scale as set out, for the time being.
An attendance at 85% of all drills and training sessions on a quarterly basis is necessary to qualify for a retaining fee. Firefighters who do not meet this requirement may lose 50% of Retainer (Annual Leave, Certified Sick Leave and Jury Duty, if not excused, may be valid excuses for absence).
A successful candidate will only be offered employment on a probationary basis as a Retained Fire fighter subject to satisfactory completion of the following courses:
- Firefighting Skills Course. This course is a full-time, three-week course, which will be held at a training centre in Ireland and may involve staying away from home on a Monday to Friday basis for the three weeks.
- Breathing Apparatus Course. This course is a full-time, two-week course, which will be held at a training centre in Ireland and may involve staying away from home on a Monday to Friday basis for the two weeks.
- Compartment Fire Behaviour Training Course. This course is a full time, one-week course, which will be held at a training centre in Ireland and may involve staying away from home on a Monday to Friday basis for the week.
The earnings of a Retained Firefighter are variable depending on the level of activity undertaken by each individual.
Earnings are made up of an annual retainer, payments for attending training, payments for attending call outs, payments for carrying out Community Fire Safety duties and payments for other duties.
Firefighters are required to:
Be of good Character, be physically and medically fit, possess intelligence, courage, and initiative.
Before being accepted, fire-fighters will be required to pass medical, physical, and other examinations which may include cardio-vascular assessment tests. Firefighters will also agree to undertake such other examinations as may be deemed necessary by the Chief Fire Officer.
Firefighters must be not less than 18 years on recruitment. Retirement age for Retained Fire-fighters is 55 years of age.