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It was an historic day for Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) as it celebrated its final graduation ceremony at its Learning & Development Centre (LDC), Boucher, before officially opening the final phase of its new cutting edge training facility in Cookstown.

NIFRS Learning & Development College (LDC) at Cookstown is a Northern Ireland Executive flagship project that represents the largest capital build ever undertaken by the service. The facilities will revolutionise how NIFRS trains and develops its people.

The 36 new Wholetime (Full-Time) Firefighters that graduated from NIFRS on Friday 2 February 2024 will continue their training at the college when it opens later this year.

The training equipped them to develop specialist knowledge and acquire a wide range of practical skills, including tactical firefighting, using breathing apparatus, and responding to road traffic collisions and other rescues.

Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service Chief Fire & Rescue Officer, Aidan Jennings said: "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.

"The delivery of more realistic and repeatable operational rescue scenarios to assist our Firefighter’s will enhance the safety of our people throughout Northern Ireland and enhance the safety of our community.

“Our graduates are enthused to be part of this journey with us as they start the next chapter of their careers as Wholetime Firefighters."

Last graduation Service from Boucher Road training Centre as 36 fulltime firefighters begin their careers in local Fire Stations