Retained Duty System

At any time, there are probably as many retained members of the Fire and Rescue Service on duty as wholetime firefighters. There are a total of 14,000 firefighters on the Retained Duty System in England and Wales, and RDS personnel provide emergency cover to over 90% of the UK.

This section looks at the work done by retained firefighters, and at some of the specific issues affecting them.

Rural retained boost Shropshire’s rural firefighters have got a much needed helping hand – in the shape of eight extra full-time support staff.

Retaining Talent in Shropshire At a medals ceremony held at Shrewsbury Fire and Rescue HQ and attended by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant, a 62-year old retained firefighter was given a unique award for his “outstanding” service to the community.

The Report of the Review of the Retained Duty System The Retained Duty System (RDS) has always been an integral part of the Fire and Rescue Service. A new review looks to further build the systems profile by identifying and resolving issues to improve efficiency.