Being a firefighter was his life and soul, but Paul Steen has taken his final salute and retired after 30 years on the front line of the NI Fire and Rescue Service.

Having weathered blaze after blaze during the Drumcree riots and unrest to callouts across the southern area, Paul has decided to step down from his role as a full time firefighter and Crew Commander.

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Tommy Steen with his uncle Crew Commander Paul Steen and Paul's sister Heather Forbes at Remembrance Service in Portadown, Co Armagh.

placeholder image — Tommy Steen with his uncle Crew Commander Paul Steen and Paul's sister Heather Forbes at Remembrance Service in Portadown, Co Armagh.

He was always first at the station in Portadown – he lives just beside it – and has seen quite a few dreadful incidents over the years.

Paul has lived in Portadown all his life firstly in the West Acres of Craigavon for few years, then the family moved to Killicomaine Drive and on to Ballyhannon Grove for 5 years.

He went to Killicomaine Junior High School and then Portadown Technology College achieving 6 O levels, leaving in 1987. He served his time as a joiner qualifying in 1992 and began his career at Whitten Bros Builders, Portadown where he worked for around 8 years.

Crew Commander Paul Steen with all the firefighters at Portadown Fire Station. That was his last drill night before he retired from the NI Fire and Rescue Service.

"During this time the boss and two employees were already in Portadown Fire Station and word of mouth got me to apply,” he revealed.

Paul began training for NI Fire and Rescue Service in March 23, 1995 and it has been jam packed with various call outs since, from grass fires, car crashes and casualty extraction to burnt toast in Craigavon Area Hospital.

He got a commendation from the Chief Fire Officer after saving a man’s life. “It was my ultimate award, to save someone’s life is priceless,” he said. Paul had been able climb up scaffolding in Portadown town centre and help support a young man until he was able to be resuscitated by medics.

"When the man was about to fall, I knew we could save him and it is very satisfying to succeed,” said Paul at the time.

Around 15 years ago Paul remembers a call-out to a plane crash on the Dungannon Road in Portadown. It was a microlite aircraft that came down as the engine had started to stall.

"The pilot made an emergency landing and the front wheel was buried into the soft earth and the plane flipped over,” Paul recalled.

"We had no idea until we arrived that it was only a microlite and not a big jumbo jet,” Paul said laughing and was relieved that both the pilot and his friend had survived without major injury.

Paul became a Crew Commander about 9 years ago after training at Morton on Marsh, England. 15 years ago Portadown became a Variable Crewed station with whole time and retained firefighters.

"I, with others, made up the whole time crew shortfall, covering shifts, so I became part of the station furniture for several years gaining more skills,” he revealed, adding he was also Chairperson of the Fire Brigades Union for several years.

A jovial person, Paul was nominated as Portadown Fire Station’s Santa Claus when the firefighters organised charity events for the Annual Children’s Christmas Party.

Living close to Portadown Fire Station had its perks – for example he would be first to take charge or drive the appliances.

“Being a fighter meant the world to me, I lived it and was committed to it deeply. I recommend it to teenagers and young people and urge them to join. It is so gratifying. The more you give to NIFRS the more you can earn,” he said, pointing out it could be a way to earn extra income for that car or holiday you want. “There’s a good pension too if you have good attendance and go to all fire calls etc.

"There's an emptiness now in my life but at least I can sleep with no pager waking me now or while out with friends etc,” said Paul, adding that the pager ruled his life for many years. “It’s bitter sweet leaving the Fire Service but I am looking forward to new challenges ahead.”

Paul, who as a community firefighter was a first aider and knew CPR, admitted his relationships had suffered throughout the years and he never married nor had children. However, who knows what might happen in retirement.

“I still try and train just to keep healthy. Gone are my body building days and 5 nights in gym. I just do the odd run once a week around the Gosford Forest Park,” he said, adding he does enjoy a few beers in Portadown on Saturday nights in Joe Mac's and Ma Berry's.

What does the future look like in retirement for Paul?

He plans on backpacking around South East Asia. "I'm familiar with it and have travelled many times - taking my mum 5 times to see the not-so-serious side of me.

"She loved it but passed away February last year so that kind of contributed to me winding down to retirement,” he said, adding that has one sister, Heather. “We celebrated her birthday in Bangkok city in April with her husband.”

Paul is highly recommending the NI Fire and Rescue Service as a career. It is a challenging, varied and highly rewarding career. "It’s the type of career where you learn a lot and make friends for life.

"We just started 5 new trainees in the last few months to add to the other 4 that joined about 4 years ago. Portadown Fire Station is in a good place and is a great place to work,” he said.