Traditionally many members of the services looked for a job in the fire services on retirement (In fact they had prefferential treatment on applying), however with less of those jobs in the future, many ex service will be looking elleswhere.
You may not have noticed Miked that HM forces have shrunk by 40%-50% in the past 15 years - while the Fire Service has shrunk by 0%,.
Thus not so many ex-service guys looking for a job, anyway, and just as well, as no fireman ever leaves until it's time to get the index-linked pension.