Today marks the one month countdown for firefighters in Grayshott, as the station prepares for its centenary celebrations commemorating 100 years of operational service.

To mark the grand occasion, the Fire Station is holding an Open Day on Saturday, 23 June 2007 with numerous fire appliances for all to see, old and new, as well as specialist equipment such as an Aerial Ladder Platform and Incident Command Support Units.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service's Urban Search and Rescue Team will also be in action, whilst the Extrication Team will perform a simulation road traffic collision where they will cut a live casualty out of car. This specialist team has proven itself to be one of the UK's finest at vehicle extrications and is currently ranked 6th best in the world.

Visitors to the Station will experience a range of Community Safety displays, including a chip pan fire demonstration. Another attraction set to draw in the crowds is the Fire Simulation Unit where members of the public can safely encounter the conditions of a smoke-logged room.

Further displays will include the Ladies Driving Challenge and an exhibition mapping the 100-year history of the fire and rescue service in Grayshott. The centenary's grand finale will be a procession of all the vehicles through the village, which opens the popular annual Jamboree in Grayshott - a family affair with a fairground and lots of local stalls.

Formed in 1907, as the independent Grayshott and Hindhead Fire Brigade, the Station was then crewed by a Chief Fire Officer and twelve volunteer firefighters. The princely sum of £106 was raised to pay for a cart, hose, standpipe and nine hydrants. They attended their first incident in February 1907.

Today, one hundred years on, firefighters at Grayshott respond to more incidents annually than they attended in the station's first thirty years. A stark reminder of the ever-changing nature of the Fire and Rescue Service and how we are recognising and meeting an increasing number of risks in our communities.

Watch Manager Peter Norman commented: "Grayshott Fire Station has come a very long way from the days of the fire cart in 1907. It is now a modern fire station and an integral part of the village community. The celebrations in June will offer a fusion of old and new, stretching over the past 100 years and helping to bring the station's long and varied history to life."

"A poster campaign is also being launched to commemorate our Centenary, which the Service's education team will use as part of their safety awareness activity in our local schools. The Station will open at 10am on Saturday 23rd of June and the procession will commence at 1pm. We are particularly looking forward to the grand culmination of the celebrations when we lead a procession of the vehicles through the village," he added.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service is running a recruitment campaign to attract firefighters in the Grayshott area. The Service is looking for local people who want to make a commitment to working with their own community and saving lives by joining the Retained Firefighters team. Retained duty system firefighters work 'part time' in the service which can be ideal for people working and/or living locally or for parents who have some spare time during the day.

Retained firefighters are an integral part of their local community. Being a Retained Firefighter is not just about attending incidents whenever you're required, it's about teamwork and helping the local community. Responding to 999 calls is just part of the job, other aspects include working as part of the Community Safety Team which involves giving advice and assistance to local people on fire safety matters and therefore helping to prevent fires and other incidents.