Residents in Basingstoke are invited to explore a career in the fire service during an upcoming recruitment open day at the local fire station on Saturday 30 May 2026. The event, hosted by the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service, will run from 10am to 4pm at the facility on West Ham Close.
The open day is designed to provide potential recruits with a comprehensive look at the role of a wholetime firefighter. Attendees will have the opportunity to get hands-on with firefighting equipment, speak directly with current members of the service, and receive practical guidance on the application and interview process.
Basingstoke Fire Station, which operates as a modern hub for local emergency response, is staffed by 64 full-time and 18 on-call firefighters. The facility opened in 2018 as a £6 million investment to replace the town’s older infrastructure and improve operational capacity. In addition to a dedicated community safety team, the site houses a variety of emergency vehicles, including three fire engines, an aerial ladder platform, and specialist support units.
The recruitment drive follows a period of leadership change for the regional service, with Dr Sabrina Cohen-Hatton appointed as the first female Chief Fire Officer in September 2025. The organisation has previously seen success in diversifying its workforce, including a notable increase in female firefighter intake following a 2019 recruitment initiative.
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