Ruth Gillespie, from Carrickfergus, is a fire-fighter at a station in Belfast. She explains how she joined the Northern Ireland Fire Authority.
"I joined the fire service in a career change. I had been working as an administrator with a local clothing business when I spotted an advertisement in the Belfast Telegraph for women fire-fighters. It came at a time when I had been thinking about a career change. I was very keen to get out and do something more active."
"To find out more about the job, I went to an open day at Westland Fire Station in Belfast and got the opportunity to try out climbing a ladder, rolling out a hose and using the breathing apparatus. I loved the experience and it seemed like a great career; one which also suited my long-term interest in physical fitness."