Crook dad and ambulance worker achieves dream of driving fire engine after becoming on-call
firefighter
AS a child Karl Sichert dreamed of driving a fire engine.
Little did he know that 30 years later his childhood ambition would become a reality. The 42-year-
old dad is an on-call firefighter with County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service
(CDDFRS) alongside his main job as an Ambulance Support Practitioner with the North East
Ambulance Service NEAS).
Karl, who has previously worked as warehouse manager, telecoms engineer and Tesco delivery
driver, joined the Service four years ago, following in the footsteps of his dad, Raymond. He
responds to emergency incidents from Crook Fire Station.
“My dad was a firefighter in Peterlee in the 70s and when I was a lad, he would tell me stories of
what he did, so I wanted to follow in his footsteps,” Karl said. “When I moved to Crook I was living
within five-minutes of the station – which is in the radius to be on-call – so I decided to join as an on-
call firefighter in March 2021.”
After passing the role-related tests, Karl underwent intensive training to ensure he was
competent in dealing with road traffic collisions, working at height, water rescues, trauma care, and
wearing breathing apparatus. He also gained his emergency response driving qualification through
the Service and drives the fire engine to incidents.
And his four-year-old son, Jack, is his biggest fan, waving to his dad through the kitchen window
of their home when he drives past!
Karl said: “You never know what you are going to get when you get called out. You are there in
someone’s time need and it is really rewarding to know you have been able to help them.”
Karl has dealt with a whole range of incidents ranging from wildfires and house fires to road traffic
collisions since joining the Service.
“I remember attending a crash where we helped to cut a man from a car and he went to
hospital,” Karl said. “Around six months later I was doing Home Fire Safety Visits, and I just
happened to knock on his mother’s door, and she was so thankful we helped him.
“You just go and do your job but don’t get to hear what happens afterwards, so to find out how
he was doing by chance like that and to be thanked was really nice.”
Karl has also had his share of animal rescues, once saving some kittens who were trapped behind
an interior wall in one memorable incident. “I love the variety,” he said.
“It is not just about responding to emergencies, you also get to go out and speak to people in the
community with things like school visits, open days and Home Fire Safety Visits. There is a lot more
to the job than people think, and the variety is what keeps it interesting.”
Karl commits a set number of hours to be on-call and attends a weekly training drill night at
Crook Fire Station.
“It is a lot of commitment but is a really rewarding job and you get out what you put into it,” he
said. “There is the opportunity to get qualifications and career progression up the ranks. The Service
supports you all the way.”
CDDFRS is recruiting on-call firefighters, with a particular need at Stanhope, Middleton-in-
Teesdale, Barnard Castle, High Handenhold, Crook, Sedgefield, and Durham. On-call firefighters
continue with their daily routine until the call comes and they become professional firefighters
saving lives across County Durham. Applicants must live or work within five minutes of a fire station
and only individuals aged 17 years and six months or older are eligible to apply.
The role is paid and successful candidates will receive intensive training before taking on the role.
On-call firefighters commit to around 60-80 hours per week and attend weekly drill nights at their
assigned fire station to hone their skills.
The full list of stations and their drill nights can be found on the Service website here.
Applications for the role are open now. Click here to apply.
