FIREFIGHTERS in Helmsley are taking part in a charity car-wash this weekend to raise funds and help encourage more people to join the fire service.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, is currently putting a call out for more ‘volunteer’ firecrew to help out across the region.

Being a retained, on-call firefighter involves declaring what hours of the week you can be available, and agreeing to be, either at work or at home, no more than four miles from the fire station you’re serving. Firefighters are alerted to a call out through a pager and have to respond to the station within eight minutes.

Chris Lazenby who owns Lazenby Visuals, based at Helmsley’s Walled Garden Craft Units, has also been a retained firefighter for four years.

He said: “I’d thought about joining for a long time, and even as a young child, I remember visiting my grandma’s local fire station which was crewed by, among others, the local milkman, a decorator and the mechanic from the local garage. Little did I know that I’d later be in the same situation.

“When I first joined, I was a student and it worked well, as when I was home studying, I could be on call. Now that I’m running Lazenby Visuals, I’m based in Helmsley most of the time both for work and at home. This means I can provide cover most days and nights.

Chris said: “I have a notice as you walk through the door in the shop that politely warns people I am on duty and may have to rush out quickly.

“Thankfully we’re quite a quiet station so it doesn’t mean I have to close the studio very often.”

Members of the fire station are doing a charity car-wash outside the Black Swan Hotel in Helmsley on Sunday, June 25, from 12noon to 3pm.

All the funds raised will go to the Fire Fighters Charity, which helps injured fire fighters and their families.

For more information about becoming an on call firefighter in your area, visit the recruitment section on www.northyorksfire.gov.uk

Alternatively contact recruitment officer Jon Wilson on 07817 485024.