Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) is running a series of Come and Try Days across the region to encourage more women to apply to become wholetime firefighters.

The sessions, which are open to anyone aged 17 or over, will take place at five fire stations: Crescent Link in Derry/Londonderry on 6 June, Antrim on 6 June, Central Fire Station in Belfast on 7 June and 13 June, Armagh on 13 June, and Omagh on 14 June. Two time slots are available at each venue, a morning session from 10am to 12.30pm and an afternoon session from 2pm to 4.30pm.

Places are limited and registration is required via the NIFRS website. The events offer a practical introduction to the day-to-day work of a firefighter, an overview of the physical requirements, and the chance to talk to serving female firefighters.

Station Commander Nicola McSherry stated that the initiative is designed to build confidence, challenge misconceptions about the role, and provide clear information on the fitness standards expected. She emphasised that modern firefighting involves community engagement and prevention work as well as emergency response.

The taster days come ahead of the next main wholetime recruitment campaign planned for June 2026. Over the last five years, the proportion of female wholetime firefighters in NIFRS has grown from just under 5% to 9.56%, and the service has described building a more diverse workforce as an ongoing priority.