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France appeals for volunteer firefighters
Most firefighters in France are volunteers, and fire stations are hoping to recruit an additional 50,000 over the next four years
Fire stations are appealing for volunteers in an attempt to reverse a decades-long decline.
The Fédération nationale des sapeurs-pompiers is hoping to recruit an additional 50,000 sapeur-pompier volontaire (SPV) volunteers by 2027.
Over the last 30 years, the number of volunteer firefighters has fallen by 30,000.
Volunteers play an essential role in combating fires, as they make up 78% of the 252,000 firefighters in France.
They are generally compensated between €8 and €12 per hour, depending on their grade.
On average, volunteers take part in six actions per month. French nationality is not required.
Volunteers must be aged 16 to 60 (21 minimum for an officer), and have full civil rights, with the B2 section of their criminal record clean.
French nationals must also have completed a journée défense et citoyenneté.
Volunteers undergo a medical test during the recruitment process to determine whether they are physically able to take on the role.
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