For the first time ever NIFRS is recruiting for a new daytime contract when firefighters must be available for at least 40 hours per week, normally between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday in order to respond to emergency calls. NIFRS wants to recruit people who can respond to Ballymena Fire Station within 5 minutes of being alerted by pager. Paul Coyle, Northern Area Commander, Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service explains: “Simply put, NIFRS could not operate without our Community Firefighters as they provide the emergency fire & rescue services to local towns and villages across Northern Ireland. “It is an extremely rewarding and interesting job. Community Firefighters must be able to quickly respond to emergency call outs by making their way to the Fire Station within 5 minutes, where they will meet the rest of their crew. “Community Firefighters are paid a retaining fee, emergency call out payments and a payment to attend a weekly drill night which is two hours per week in the evening where they are trained to the highest standards and take part in 12 days training each year to ensure we have the most highly skilled Firefighters to help protect our local communities.” Recruitment Information nights are being held at each Fire Station that is recruiting. Ballymena Recruitment Information nights are on Monday 29 June and Monday 6 July from 7.30pm-9.30pm. Application packs can be downloaded from the NIFRS website -www.nifrs.org/careers. Closing date for applications is Friday 10 July 2015 at 3.00pm.