FIRE chiefs are hoping to re-kindle the community spirit which helped to set up Horwich's fire fighting service.

Bosses at Greater Manchester Fire service want to encourage more local people to join the part-time ranks of the "retained" firefighting team.

Assistant Divisional Officer Shaun O'Donnell said: "The Horwich fire station has a great history behind it.

"It has developed as an integral part of the community. First with the loco works and then with the rest of the town and the businesses around it."

Records of a Horwich fire service date back to at least 1902 when staff at the loco works were trained to fight fires on the complex.

Over a period of time the work extended to fighting fires around the town.

It came under the control of the Lancashire County Fire Service in 1939 and in 1974 the Greater Manchester Fire Service took charge.

Vital

ADO O'Donnell said: "Horwich having its own station has proved vital on various occasions, such as the blaze at Horwich RMI in 1976."

With the demise of the loco works the ranks of the retained staff were filled by staff from local businesses.

To become a retained firefighter people must be able to reach the Chorley New Road station within four minutes while they are working and cover shifts in the evenings and at weekends, totalling between 96-168 hours per week.

They are given full training before going out to fight fires.

ADO O'Donnell added: "The location means that there are a wide variety of 'shouts' attended by Horwich firefighters, ranging from moorland fires to motorway crashes."

Horwich now has seven full-time professional firefighters and 12 retained staff. But there are positions available for eight new retained staff.

Retained firefighters receive an annual retaining fee of £1,772. In addition they receive pay for turning out to incidents and weekly night drills.

ADO O'Donnell can be contacted on Bolton 382833.

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