Im just retiring after 31 years and wouldnt reccomend to anyone the job, Im in Durham a small brigade but the ever changing working conditions finally did for me. Health ans Safety , although obviously a good thing to a degree is spoiling the fire service , eg. ( true story) a child in major difficulty in a swollen river , Firemen cant go in after that child now so they were going through all the safety procedures while this child clings to life when an ex marine passer by dives in and retrieves the child while Firemen are still donning safety gear , not what i joined for but thats the way i