Fulltime firefighters in Ireland comprise about one third of the firefighters the rest being retained (on a retainer and paid per call) Only the major cities and some towns have fulltime brigades either on a 24/7 basis or day manning basis.

Fulltime brigades are located where the number of calls, risk assessment and funding of the authority will allow a fulltime service. Dublin is the largest brigade with 12 fulltime stations and 2 retained stations in the more rural North county Dublin. Cork City is the next largest with 2 fulltime stations however the rest of Cork county has 21 other retained fire stations.

These firefighters work various shift systems to provide 24 / 7 cover for the country. The exact shift system varies from brigade to brigade with Dublin for example have 4 watches who work a 28 day cycle in which they work 7 days and 7 nights before repeating the pattern. The days in Dublin Fire Brigade are 9 hours and nights 15 hours with 3 on 3 off system (roughly!)

Firefighters who are accepted for the position of firefighter generally do all their training before going operational and then have a period of probation as opposed to retained firefighters who may do the more important aspects first and then learn the rest during training nights on station.

To be employed as a firefighter in Ireland you must reply to the advertisement in the newspapers when it is published. Further information is on the Employment pages.

Fulltime Brigades in Ireland

Any county which has a fulltime station also has retained stations although they may be run by the county fire authority such as Cork City and Cork County Fire Brigades

Dublin (12 Stations and 2 retained)

Cork City (2 stations)

Limerick City (1 station)

Galway City (1 Station)

Day Manned Stations.

Stations which have a fulltime presence during office hours which may consist of a station officer only or an officer and some firefighters.

Waterford City

Navan Fire Station

Dundalk Fire Station