Structure

The Service resources are centred on one Whole-time/Retained Station on Guernsey and a Retained Station on Herm.

There are 59 Whole-time and 22 part-time Retained Firefighters employed by the Service. This includes the Chief Fire Officer, Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Head of Operations, Head of Fire Safety, Training Officer, Assistant Training Officer and a Station Manager. Additionally there is a Control Manager, 5 Control Officers and 6 civilian staff providing support services.

To provide 24 hr emergency cover, there are 4 operational shifts, known as ‘Watches’, each consisting of 11 Firefighters. Each watch has Watch Commander in charge, 2 Crew Commanders, and 8 Firefighters. These Watches operate a rotating duty system of 10-hour day shifts and 14-hour night shifts in order to maintain the necessary cover. In addition off duty Whole-time Firefighters and Retained Firefighters carry radio pagers to provide backup crews when required. A Nucleus Crewing System involves 3 Firefighters, usually the most recent recruits, working day duties between Monday and Friday, on a 9-day fortnight basis. This increases the Watch numbers and permits more realistic training, and off Station duties, whilst maintaining the laid down level of emergency cover.

The Fire Safety Department consists of a Fire Safety Manager, a Community Fire Safety Manager, a Fire Safety Officer, a Community Fire Safety Officer and an Assistant Community Fire Safety Officer who work normal office hours.

The Control Room was resituated in June 2003 in a new centre adjoining the Station. The staff receive all incoming emergency calls, daily telephone traffic, and callers to the Station, in addition they receive emergency calls from the other Bailiwick Islands and are responsible for dispatching their Island Brigades accordingly.  The Control Room also handle out of hours emergency calls for the States Works Department and the States Sewage Department.

It can be seen that this provides a good career structure for those joining the Service and wishing to progress in the future.