Retained Firefighter Profiles

I am Janet Forster, aged 38, I live in Codsall.  I have two boys aged 11 and 6; their names are Joshua and Sam.  Sam, my youngest boy, suffers from cystic fibrosis, but I manage to balance my work and home life together with caring for him.

I joined the fire service over two and a half years ago as a retained firefighter, and I have never looked back or regretted it.  I have always wanted a job that was both rewarding and demanding but still allow me to fit work around family life.

I effectively go on call as a firefighter in the day whilst my children are at school and I can see them off in the morning and be there for them when they return, which is so important.  I am also on call throughout the night and in the evenings when my husband is at home.

In my role, I am involved both in firefighting operational, educational and community work.  I give talks to schools, brownies and the community groups and the educating of people against the risk of fire.  I am also involved in the fitting of smoke alarms in the houses within the local area.  I am presently also involved as an instructor in the student firefighter scheme which is a twelve-week course and involves 12 local school children aged 14 and 15.

I love my job and would not change it for the world.  The most important thing for me is that I feel that I am putting something back into the community I serve, and on occasions involved directly in saving lives.