A Hartley Wintney-based company is to receive a grant from the parish council to allow one of its employees to work as a retained firefighter.
Hartley Wintney Parish Council has handed over £2,000 to Vista Healthcare on Odiham Road.
The grant is part of a drive by Hampshire Fire and Rescue to boost the numbers of part-time firefighters who turn out at emergencies.
Martin Walters, Hampshire Fire and Rescue group manager for Rushmoor and Hart, said: “We have tried various recruitment drives in the area with limited success.
“This initiative is unique in Hampshire and we are delighted to award the first grant, which is provided at the end of a one-year period.
“Retained firefighters are a key part of the fire and rescue service in Hampshire and they come from a real cross-section of our community.
“Being a retained firefighter is not just about attending incidents whenever you’re required – it’s about teamwork and helping the local community.
“They are ordinary people doing an extraordinary job.”
For more information on becoming a retained firefighter, call Dave Bartlett on 07918 888158.
