The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service has launched a recruitment campaign for on-call firefighters titled 'Your Town, Your Team, Your NIFRS'. The initiative targets individuals living or working within five minutes of one of 26 participating fire stations across Northern Ireland.

Participating stations include Ballycastle, Ballyclare, Glengormley, Portrush, Portstewart, Whitehead, Armagh, Ballynahinch, Crossmaglen, Holywood, Keady, Lurgan, Newcastle, Newtownhamilton, Portaferry, Warrenpoint, Comber, Belleek, Clogher, Dromore in Tyrone, Irvinestown, Lisnaskea, Enniskillen, Newtownstewart, Pomeroy and Carryduff. Information evenings are scheduled at each station during the three-week campaign.

Western Area Commander David Doherty said on-call firefighters respond to the same incidents as wholetime firefighters while balancing other employment and family commitments. He encouraged applications and urged local business owners to support staff responding to emergency calls.

Megan Walsh from Crossmaglen works as an on-call firefighter alongside a job at a children's entertainment centre. She said her employer allows her to respond to calls with a minute's notice.

Oran Swift, a bricklayer and on-call firefighter, described transferable skills from the role and its value to rural communities. He keeps his pager on during work and responds when possible.

Applications close on Friday 13 March at 12 noon.