Day Crewing

Day Crewing fire stations

Working at a Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) Day Crewing fire station provides greater opportunity to work flexibly when compared to our Wholetime Shift Duty stations. Hours are split between time spent on station and time spent on call and it allows our crews to manage their own commitments whilst working in a full-time role. The Day Crewing system also provides the opportunity to spend time at home during special occasions such as Christmas Day, whilst still being on shift. 

What is Day Crewing?

The GMFRS Day Crewing shift system requires our crews to work a combination of hours on station and hours on call from a base location, over a 24-hour period. Our crews provide an immediate response during station hours or up to a 4-minute delayed response during on-call hours. On call cover is provided by crew who own or rent their own accommodation (or reside in accommodation provided by GMFRS) within a 4-minute response area of the Day Crewing station. For the On-Call period, crews are provided with a pager that alerts them to an incident and they then make their way to the fire station.

Our crews work 42 hours full time per week, an average of 35 hours per week is based at the station and an average of 7 hours per week is based on standby at home. On weekdays the on-station hours are 08:30–18:00. Saturdays and Sundays are normal working days with a start time of 08:30. However, if all essential work has been completed, personnel can work the remainder of the shift on call from 13:00.

On-Call hours are 18:00–08:00.

What are the benefits?

The benefits of working on a Day Crewing station include:

  • Housing could be provided at some stations (Irlam and Ramsbottom)
  • The On-Call element of the system attracts a 17.5% pensionable allowance for emergency calls that crews will attend or hours spent on stand-by
  • GMFRS provide additional allowances that contribute towards utility bills and mortgage/rental payments where housing is not provided
  • Support and reimbursements are provided if you need to relocate (this includes days off and moving costs)
  • Greater flexibility
  • Work on call from home (once all essential duties are complete) if you are on shift on:
    • Christmas Day
    • Boxing Day
    • New Year’s Day
    • Good Friday
    • Easter Monday

What are the locations?

The current locations of Day Crewing stations are:

  • Marple
  • Littleborough
  • Ramsbottom
  • Mossley
  • Horwich
  • Irlam