JUST a handful of people showed up to Fishguard Fire Station’s open day last Tuesday (December 2).

It was held in a bid to recruit more on-call firefighters, of which there is a dire need in Fishguard.

Station liasion officer John Jones said: “We’ve had a couple of people who look like they’ll be successful candidates, but unfortunately not too many. But it’s early days and I’m hoping more people will turn up after work.”

County Councillor Wynne Evans, the Deputy Chair of the Fire Authority, said: “We regard the current situation as very serious.

“Today (December 3) for example only two Fishguard crew were available in the day time and it takes a minimum of four crew to attend an incident.

“We had to bring in fire personnel from Haverfordwest to Fishguard for the entire day in case of an emergency call out, otherwise engines from other towns would have had to attend putting a possible extra 15 minutes to arrive at a incident."

Cllr Evans added: “Minutes cost lives and I plead to the wonderful community of Fishguard to help us attract new firefighters to our Fishguard Station.”

There are more than 700 on-call firefighters employed by Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and it needs to keep recruiting to ensure its fire engines are available in emergencies.

For more information contact the recruitment team on 01267 242636 or email personnel@mawwfire.gov.uk