LUKE Powell goes to work each day knowing that his second job could call on him at any moment.

Luke's boss knows that and doesn't mind at all.

The understanding between them - repeated in workplaces across Herefordshire - is what keeps the county's retained firefighters ready for any emergency.

Retained, or part-time, crews make up most of Herefordshire's fire and rescue response. The work they do and risks they take in tandem with the "regulars" were highlighted by the bravery of the Bromyard team at the Securidor blaze in the town last week.

As reported by the Hereford Times, the six put their lives on the line to keep flames from chemical drums that would have fuelled a fierce explosion, hurling highly dangerous toxins into the air.

Two of that team worked at Securidor and got their colleagues out before coming back with crewmates to fight the fire.

Herefordshire needs more like them, says Station Officer Bryan Morgan, responsible for retained liasion in the county.

Around 150 retained firefighters are on 24-hour call across the county. That number, said SO Morgan, was about 20-25% down on what it should be.

Luke, aged 18, is the latest recruit. A butcher at Pontrilas-based Country Tastes, he is the first new face at Ewyas Harold fire station for a number of years.

Luke grew up in Michaelchurch Escley with a strong sense of community. Giving something back to that community was, he says, a strong motivation.

He would hear how well the Ewyas Harold crew were spoken of around his home, and now that he's one of them he can think about what it takes to go full-time - a long-term ambition.

Having completed initial training, Luke is on day cover and waiting for his first "shout". At Ewyas Harold that is likely to be a road accident - the station is just off the A465, one of the county's collision blackspots.

Luke says his boss Neil Powell, no relation, has been "very supportive" of the second job. Like the Ewyas Harold crew, Country Tastes has strong community roots too.