Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service celebrates final graduation at current facility

Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) recently marked the graduation of 36 new Wholetime (Full-Time) Firefighters at its Learning & Development Centre (LDC), Boucher.

This event also signifies the final graduation ceremony before the service transitions to its new state-of-the-art training facility in Cookstown.

New training facility in Cookstown to revolutionise firefighter training

The Cookstown Learning & Development College, a Northern Ireland Executive flagship project, is set to be the largest capital build ever undertaken by NIFRS.

It promises to transform the training and development of NIFRS personnel with cutting-edge facilities.

The newly graduated firefighters will continue their training at this innovative college when it opens later in the year.

Their intensive training programme has equipped them with specialist knowledge and practical skills, including tactical firefighting, using breathing apparatus, and responding to various emergencies.

Comments from NIFRS leadership

Aidan Jennings, Chief Fire & Rescue Officer at NIFRS, expressed his pride in the graduates and the forthcoming college: “This is a hugely momentous day for our 36 trainees as they graduate as Wholetime Firefighters and for NIFRS hosting its final graduation ceremony at its Learning & Development Centre, Boucher.

“We are extremely proud to lead the development of our new Learning & Development College at Cookstown. The College will revolutionise how NIFRS trains and develops its people.”

Peter May, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health, and Jay Colville, Chairperson of NIFRS, also extended their congratulations to the graduates.

They underscored the importance of the new training facility in Cookstown in transforming the delivery of training for future firefighters with its advanced equipment and facilities.

IFSJ comment

The graduation of 36 new Wholetime Firefighters from the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service marks a pivotal moment for the service as it transitions to a new era of firefighter training and development.

The establishment of the new Learning & Development College in Cookstown is a testament to the commitment of NIFRS to enhance the skills and safety of its personnel and, by extension, the community they serve.

This initiative not only supports the professional growth of new firefighters but also reflects an investment in the future of fire and rescue services in Northern Ireland.

As these graduates embark on their careers, they carry with them the values of dedication, safety, and community service that are essential to the mission of NIFRS.