On-call fireighter Karl Sichert.
As a child Karl Sichert dreamed of driving a fire engine.
Little did he know that 30 years later his childhood ambition would become a reality.
The 42-year-old dad is an on-call firefighter with County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) alongside his main job as an Ambulance Support Practitioner with the North East Ambulance Service NEAS).
Karl, who has previously worked as warehouse manager, telecoms engineer and Tesco delivery driver, joined the Service four years ago, following in the footsteps of his dad, Raymond. He responds to emergency incidents from Crook Fire Station.
“My dad was a firefighter in Peterlee in the 70s and when I was a lad, he would tell me stories of what he did, so I wanted to follow in his footsteps,” Karl said.
“When I moved to Crook I was living within five-minutes of the station - which is in the radius to be on-call - so I decided to join as an on-call firefighter in March 2021.”
After passing the role-related tests, Karl underwent intensive training to ensure he was competent in dealing with road traffic collisions, working at height, water rescues, trauma care, and wearing breathing apparatus.
He also gained his emergency response driving qualification through the Service and drives the fire engine to incidents.
And his four-year-old son, Jack, is his biggest fan, waving to his dad through the kitchen window of their home when he drives past!
Karl said: “You never know what you are going to get when you get called out.
“You are there in someone’s time need and it is really rewarding to know you have been able to help them.”
Karl has dealt with a whole range of incidents ranging from wildfires and house fires to road traffic collisions since joining the Service.
“I remember attending a crash where we helped to cut a man from a car and he went to hospital,” Karl said.
“Around six months later I was doing Home Fire Safety Visits, and I just happened to knock on his mother’s door, and she was so thankful we helped him.
“You just go and do your job but don’t get to hear what happens afterwards, so to find out how he was doing by chance like that and to be thanked was really nice.”
Karl has also had his share of animal rescues, once saving some kittens who were trapped behind an interior wall in one memorable incident.
“I love the variety,” he said.
“It is not just about responding to emergencies, you also get to go out and speak to people in the community with things like school visits, open days and Home Fire Safety Visits.
“There is a lot more to the job than people think, and the variety is what keeps it interesting.”
Karl commits a set number of hours to be on-call and attends a weekly training drill night at Crook Fire Station.
“It is a lot of commitment but is a really rewarding job and you get out what you put into it,” he said.
“There is the opportunity to get qualifications and career progression up the ranks.
“The Service supports you all the way.”
CDDFRS is recruiting on-call firefighters, with a particular need at Stanhope, Middleton-in-Teesdale, Barnard Castle, High Handenhold, Crook, Sedgefield, and Durham.
On-call firefighters continue with their daily routine until the call comes and they become professional firefighters saving lives across County Durham.
Applicants must live or work within five minutes of a fire station and only individuals aged 17 years and six months or older are eligible to apply.
The role is paid and successful candidates will receive intensive training before taking on the role.
On-call firefighters commit to around 60-80 hours per week and attend weekly drill nights at their assigned fire station to hone their skills.
The full list of stations and their drill nights can be found on the Service website here.
Applications for the role are open now. Click here to apply.
