Please note this vacancy is for positions in our Control room, not for Operational Firefighters.
About The Role
We are now recruiting for new Firefighter Control Operators to join our incredible team, a team recognised for its outstanding work in the heart of its communities.
Salary:
£28,865* per annum during the 10 week recruit training course and whilst completing the Emergency Contact Handler apprenticeship.
£36,937* per annum once you complete the apprenticeship and become a Competent Firefighter Control.
*An additional 5% will be paid on completion of the initial recruit training course, if you are appointed into the duty system with the retained cover element.
Fire Control – Not Just A Call Centre
Who answers the emergency call when someone needs help from the Fire and Rescue service?
It is the calm, reassuring voice of our Fire Control staff. The title for this role is Firefighter Control, also referred to as Fire Control Operator.
Fire Control is a dynamic function that’s plays a key role in ensuring that Fire appliances and other Fire Service resources are mobilised quickly to incidents.
The Firefighter Control Operator role plays a huge part in making sure emergency situations are brought under control, mobilising additional resources and requesting the attendance of other agencies as required to assist the initial attending fire crews to resolve an incident.
Operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Firefighter Control staff work effectively, to ensure that calls for Fire Service assistance are dealt with appropriately and that Fire Service assistance is quickly and efficiently mobilised. Firefighter Control Operators use a range of questioning techniques and advanced technology solutions, to mobilise Fire Crews quickly to the correct location to deal with an incident.
Some calls will be less demanding, and some will require quick decision making under intense pressure, whilst providing safety advice or survival guidance to a caller. However, alongside intensive training, the available technology, teamwork and support from Fire Control colleagues ensures that the correct advice is given and the appropriate Fire Service response is made.
As well as answering emergency calls, the role in Fire Control also involves monitoring the overall availability of Fire Service resources, logging calls, dispatching the correct fire service response to an incident and monitoring and recording radio communications from an incident. All of this is done using a computerised mobilising system.
The modern Fire & Rescue Service is not just about fighting fires. Dealing with calls for fires to floods, rescues of people and animals from fires, water, road traffic collisions and other emergency situations, the role of Firefighter Control Operator is interesting and rewarding, with no two days being the same.
Your Future
We are looking for people with the right skills and values, people who are just as passionate as we are and are willing to go the extra mile to protect the most vulnerable people in our communities. You will understand their needs and be able to support them during a crisis.
If you are motivated by helping people and would like to be part of a team working with courage, compassion, and integrity to provide an effective emergency service response for our diverse Merseyside community, joining Fire Control may be just the job for you.
If you’re looking for a life-changing career where you will make a difference every day to the lives of people in your community, then the role of a Firefighter Control is the job for you!
If you believe that you have what we’re looking for, please complete the on-line application form to be considered for a career like no other.
Important Information:
This recruitment process is to fill places on our Firefighter Control training course, which begins April 2026.
Key Selection Process Stages and Dates:
1. Application stage:
Closing date is Midnight, Sunday 18th January 2026. There are two parts to the online application process. First of all, you will need to complete an application form which can be accessed from the Firefighter Control advert on the vacancies section of our careers page at www.merseyfire.gov.uk
Once you have submitted part one of your application, you will receive a link via email to complete the second part of the application form. For this part, you will be asked to provide examples to demonstrate how you display some of the Leadership Behaviours relevant to the role of Firefighter Control. Both parts of the application stage must be completed by the closing date of Sunday 18th January 2026.
**Please note should we receive a sufficient number of applications; we reserve the right to close the advert early**
2. Interviews and assessments, to be held during week commencing 9th February 2026.
Eligibility
Applicants must be at least 17 and a half years old at the time of submitting their application. Firefighter Control need to be at least 18 years of age to work the required shift pattern. There is no upper age limit.
Applicants who have a live/unspent disciplinary sanction or who are currently working under any capability (performance) related improvement note/plan will not be eligible to apply.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) can be a helpful resource when preparing your application. However, all examples and claims must be honest, factually correct, and based solely on your personal experience. If plagiarism is detected - such as presenting someone else’s ideas or AI-generated content as your own—your application may be withdrawn.
The Service is currently piloting an AI tool as an aid to hiring managers to assist with the shortlisting process. All final decisions on whether candidates progress to the next stage will be taken by the hiring managers.
We do not accept CV submissions for this vacancy.
For further information about the role, guidance how to complete the online application form and information on the later stages of the selection process; please have a look at the Firefighter Control Recruitment Candidate Pack which can be accessed from the Firefighter Control advert on the vacancies section of our careers page at www.merseyfire.gov.uk