The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) has launched its 'Your Town, Your Team, Your NIFRS' recruitment campaign for on-call firefighters across 26 fire stations, including Holywood and Comber. The three-week drive targets individuals living or working within five minutes of a station. Information evenings are scheduled at recruiting stations, such as Holywood on March 3 and 10, and Comber on March 5 and 12.

On-call firefighters balance duties with full-time jobs and family commitments. In Holywood, senior chemical process engineer Thomas Drummond, 32, shared his two-year experience after attending an open evening. He highlighted training in breathing apparatus, road traffic collisions, and casualty care at the NIFRS facility near Cookstown.

Drummond responded to a garage fire using newly acquired skills. He noted the need to reach the station within five minutes of a call and described the role's challenges and camaraderie. His family discovered his grandfather had been a firefighter in England.

In Comber, Watch Commander Danny Dickson, a maintenance engineer with 20 years' service, and Crew Commander Scott Bryan, leisure centre manager with five years, promoted the role. Dickson cited community support, fire safety visits, and wildfire responses in the Mourne Mountains. Bryan mentioned animal rescues, including a puppy from a recliner and horse incidents.

The Comber crew consists of nine men and two women. Both commanders began after open evenings and emphasized skills development, community service, and team support. NIFRS describes on-call firefighters as the service's backbone.