Niall O'Crualoich is a firefighter at the Westland Station in north Belfast.

A trained critical care nurse who has a six-year-old son, he joined the fire service two years ago.

"My family have a history in the fire service in the Republic (of Ireland) so for me I knew what the job entailed before joining.

"I knew it wasn't all about climbing ladders and getting your photo taken," he said.

Niall O'Crualoich: Bain review was devastating blow

"We were really hoping that the government would not force us to take action but they have."

Contingency arrangements being put in place in Northern Ireland include 19 rescue teams and a team with heavy cutting equipment.

Five hundred soldiers and 32 Yellow Goddess fire engines will provide emergency cover throughout the strikes but that is still only a third of the front-line fire appliances currently being used by the fire service.

Mr O'Crualoich is annoyed that after months of deliberating and avoiding the issue, the Bain Review has dealt a devastating blow to any hopes of resolving the crisis.

"There are two copies of the report in the station here and people are so insulted they won't even discuss it," he said.

"It is just a complete insult, it is completely unrealistic and to say it is a slap in the face is a complete understatement.

"People here are left feeling: 'Is that all we're worth?' Not a hope in hell.

"We have started to dig the trenches.

"If it was a meaningful offer we would have been happy to keep talking, but they are offering us less than they did back in September.

"It will be very difficult for us to respond to a major incident, it will be up to the individual firefighters.

"It is not just the public that concerns us, we have families too, but they've pushed us too far."

As soon as someone dies we will be blamed

Niall O'Crualoich Belfast firefighter

"We are a small watch and as such we're like a family. As hard as I find it on my own there are lots of my colleagues who have families who don't make it to the end of the month.

"It is not something we are happy about but we have to look after our own.

"I do not like leaving the community in the lurch but we have been backed into a corner.

'Talk to us'

"As soon as someone dies we'll be blamed and a lot of people who believe what they are doing is right are worried about the consequences of that."

Last month, Northern Ireland Office minister Des Browne, who assumed responsibility for the fire service in the province following the suspension of the assembly, appealed to firefighters to reconsider strike action.

However, they believe they have been left with no option.

We are continuously being praised but words do not put shoes on your children's feet

Aubrey Crawford Londonderry firefighter

Aubrey Crawford, who has served in the brigade for 28 years and is due to retire at the end of the month, said it was time firefighters were paid a professional wage.

He believes the service is back at the same place that led to the first ever national strike by firefighters 25 years ago.

The sub-officer at Crescent Link station in Londonderry was with the service three years when firefighters staged a nine-week strike in 1977.

He said the reasons that led to that walk out are exactly same as those which have led to the current crisis.

Aubrey Crawford: "Not an easy decision"

"My memories of the strike in 1977 are that it stemmed from the fact that members were forced to draw supplementary benefits and we are back to the same position now.

"It is hardly the way to pay professionals and I fully agree with the action that is being taken."

Serving throughout 30 years of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, Mr Crawford said that there was not a firefighter in the province who had not been affected throughout the course of their career.

"Firefighters in Northern Ireland have experiences that will never leave them.

"I do not want to go into particular incidences as there is always a family left behind.

"We have seen some terrible things that we all reflect on in quieter moments.

"We are continuously being praised when we deal with a particularly bad road traffic accident or bad civil situation but all those grand words, while they are welcome, they don't put bread on the table and they don't put shoes on your children's feet.

"Qualified firefighters earn a maximum �21,500 which is hardly a professional wage.

"Our lives are at risk every time we go out to answer a call. Every time those bells ring we know we are heading to what is potentially a life-threatening situation.

"I joined the service to give a community service, in fact I took a drop in wages to become a firefighter, so it definitely wasn't money that motivated me."

'Equality'

Mr Crawford said the suggestion that firefighters were being greedy in their pay demands was something that particularly upset him.

A survey carried out to see how the fire service could be brought into line with other public service professions found that a 40% increase was required.

"We did not set out with that kind of pay rise in mind, we just wanted equality.

"A lot of soul searching went into this and it was not an easy decision to make."

Reflecting on how the strike affected people back in 1977, Mr Crawford said he was confident the firefighters would receive the same public support.

"Certainly I don't remember public hostility even though there was public frustration with the situation.

"No firefighter will take any joy that a person may lose their life because of the action but the blame rests on our employers and the government. We have been left no other option."