Newton Aycliffe firefighter Darren Pearson and on-call firefighter Lewis Sangster recreated the photo they took 16 years ago.
Just look at them now!
When Newton Aycliffe firefighter Darren Pearson showed a three-year-old boy around the station in 2008, little did he know they’d end up working alongside each other 16 years later.
But that’s exactly what happened when that same lad, Lewis Sangster, joined our Service as an on-call firefighter - responding from the same station he visited all those years ago.
Lewis, now aged 19, had dreamed of becoming a firefighter ever since that fateful encounter and took on his on-call role last year, which he carries out alongside his job at McDonald’s.
But it was only when Lewis’ mum realised that Darren must still work at that same station that the pair were able to reunite and decided to recreate the adorable snap as colleagues.
Lewis said: “The crew have all found it really funny and we had a good laugh recreating the photo!”
Darren, 47, from Guisborough, who joined the Service in 2006 said: “I think Lewis’ mum recognised me from working at Newton Aycliffe and asked if I was still at the station.
“Meeting him again as a colleague made me feel old!
“We recreated the photo in January and one of us hasn't changed much!”
Lewis, who is on-call 120 hours a week on top of his job at McDonald’s, aspires to be a wholetime firefighter one day.
“I love everything about being an on-call firefighter,” he said.
“The drills are good fun and I enjoy driving around doing the Home Fire Safety Visits (HFSV).
“I think a lot of people don’t realise that we respond to incidents from home or work and just assume that we sit on station and wait for a call.
“But I have responded to incidents while at work at McDonald’s and they have been great about that.”
Lewis continued: “It is particularly rewarding when members of the public come up to us and thank us for what we do.
For us attending an incident is an everyday thing, but our help can mean everything to someone.”
We’re recruiting on-call firefighters now!
Being an on-call firefighter means you are 'on call' to respond to a range of emergencies.
You can still continue to do your everyday job, but when the call comes, you will become a professional firefighter.
If you live or work within five minutes of a fire station and you want to join us as an on-call firefighter, you can register your interest and find out more about the role here: On-call Firefighters - Applications NOW OPEN | County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service
