CAREER FOCUS/Fire Fighting:  With a restructuring of the fire service planned, there are many job opportunities for those interested. Olivia Kelly reports on the hot prospects on offer in education as long as possible

The Fire Service is about to embark on a process of major redevelopment, which should increase both the scope and number of opportunities for future firefighters.

Currently the fire service is based around the local authority structure. Each local authority does its own advertising and processing of recruits. Firefighters fall into two categories; full-time and retained. The vast majority of firefighters are retained, working part-time on an on-call basis. Full-time firefighters are mainly based in Dublin, Cork Limerick, Galway and Drogheda, Co Louth.

While not quite as rare as hens teeth, full-time jobs are not very plentiful. Vacancies are advertised in the national newspapers.

Applicants need to have the minimum of a Junior Cert and be over 18 years of age. Previously there was an upper age limit, but this has been removed. Dublin applicants also require a full driving licence. Those meeting the criteria are called for aptitude tests and suitable candidates go on to the interview stage. The chosen few then form a panel from which recruits will be drawn; each panel usually lasts two- to two-and-a-half years.

"Last year in Dublin we would have had about 3,000 applicants in response to our advertisement," Dublin Fire Brigade district officer Stephen Brady says. "Out of that we interviewed 500, and made a panel of 150 and we trained 70 new fire fighters last year."

Regional training centres around the State serve the different local authorities. In Dublin training is conducted at the O'Brien Institute on the Malahide Road and takes 24 to 25 weeks, including six weeks EMT (ambulance) training. "Recruits are trained in basic firemanship, understanding building structure and basic science, using breathing apparatus and pump operation. They also do a road traffic accident and a hazardous- substances course." New recruits are assigned to a fire station but are on probation for 12 months. At the end of this year they are assessed and passed out as fully fledged firefighters.

The main plank of the job is firefighting, from dealing with car and skip fires, to domestic fires, right up to industrial fires and fires in institutions like hospitals. Training is an important part of the job, says Brady. "It's a constant learning process" and there are great career opportunities.

Although the minimum educational requirement is the Junior Cert, Brady advises hopeful firefighters to stay in education as long as possible both for their own personal development and to improve their chances of selection.

Brady also says its important to pursue a course of learning or a trade if you're waiting for jobs in the service to arise. "Several people apply two and three times before they get in. It's important to keep adding to your CV, improving your educational qualifications or getting involved in voluntary organisation like the St John ambulance to see if this is the type of job you'd like." Most firefighters are very happy and rewarded in their work, he says.