It could be a fire, flood, road accident or chemical spill...

Emergencies are random and unpredictable and have no respect for life.

But we all sleep soundly at night knowing the emergency services are ready to respond when the call goes out.

Now the spotlight is turning on a group who play a lifesaving role at all times of the day or night.

They are the retained firefighters who are an essential part of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

And, as part of a national recruitment drive, men and women in the Johnstone area are being given a chance to join the ranks of this dedicated team of heroes.

Paul Devlin, group manager at Johnstone fire station, told the Gazette: “Retained Duty System (RDS) firefighters play a vital role within the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), alongside their whole time colleagues.

“They are called upon to assist at the same emergencies, including fires, floods, road traffic accidents and chemical spills.

“RDS firefighters also help to promote fire safety messages, give safety advice to schools and local groups and carry out free home fire safety visits.”

Paul wants to hear from anyone who would like to play their part in protecting the community and, at the same time, learn new skills in a supportive environment.

Candidates must be a team player, have excellent communication skills and display attention to detail.

To join SFRS as a RDS firefighter, you must be aged 18 years or over, have a good level of physical fitness, have the required standard of vision and colour perception and live or work within five minutes of Johnstone fire station.

RDS firefighters are paid an annual retainer fee, plus additional payments for every incident attended and time spent on all activity, including training nights, community engagement and courses.

Suitable candidates need to demonstrate they have the potential to carry out this challenging role through a rigorous recruitment process.

Iain Malcolmson, watch manager at Johnstone, said the service provides vital life skills to new members.

He added: “I have seen quite a lot of young people coming in who are quite timid - they have not seen too much of the world. The transformation is amazing once they gain training and experience.

“The job gives them something to speak about and feel proud about.”

Iain, who is in his 38th year of firefighting, added: “The younger boys get on well together and know it’s important to work as a team.

“It gives me a lot of job satisfaction when I see them progressing.”

Crew manager Kenny MacPhee was involved in the Clutha disaster in November 2013, when a police helicopter crashed into a Glasgow pub, claiming 11 lives.

He said: “It was a harrowing experience but, together with the other emergency services, we did our best to get the bodies out.

“When the last bodies were taken away, we all formed a guard of honour to show our respect.”

Kenny wants anyone who is thinking of joining up to be aware the job can have an impact on their social life.

“Occasionally, plans for a night out have to be abandoned at the last minute because of a call-out but the system allows you to book off for special occasions and for work commitments,” he said.

Mark McCann has been a Johnstone-based retained firefighter for 19 years and he too was involved in the Clutha tragedy.

He said: “It’s a rewarding job and I would encourage others to think about rising to the challenge.

“It’s not all roses. You do have to give up some of your spare time but the upside is that you are living in the local community with family and friends and it’s a service for them.”

Scott Kennedy who joined 13 years ago, has seen people sign up as a retained firefighter and then go on to enjoy a career in the regular service.

He said: “I would urge anyone to consider joining because it really can transform your life.”

Ryan Keenan had no plans to become a retained firefighter after earning a degree in structural engineering from Caledonian University.

He had a career in hospitality before signing up and later progressed to the full-time service.

Ryan is eager to pay tribute to the officers who mentored him.

He said: “There’s a great bunch here, with a wealth of experience, and I am happy to share in their knowledge.”

Anyone interested in joining the local Johnstone RDS Unit should pop into the station on Thursday evenings between 6.30pm and 9.30pm.

Alternatively, visit the SFRS webpage at www.firescotland.gov.uk.