So many young people are hung up on where they come from, but it doesn't matter, if you set your goals, and believe, you will achieve them, said Chief Fire Officer Vincent Hollinsid.

Did he have any idea that one day he would be at the top of the Fire Service, headquartered on King Street, a short distance from his boyhood home in Middletown, Pembroke.

"I had no idea at all (that he would join the Service). But in the early days I could hear the alarm from my house and every time the alarm would sound, I would run over the hill, passing Alpheaus (Artie) Black's shop.

Poking fun at the young Vincent, Mr. Black would always say "there goes Martin Grimes!" who during the 1950s and 1960s was CFO.

Mr. Hollinsid chuckled and adds: "I guess it could've been an omen."

He told how being from `back of town' did not affect what he has achieved in his life. He attended Central School and then Prospect Secondary School for Boys. He said: "I began as a volunteer in 1968 and joined the full-time Fire Service in 1969."

"There are so many talented individuals any one of them could make it to the top if they are ambitious and set their goals," he said of the young men and women in the Service.

Mr. Hollinsid attributes his success to his mother instilling values that are still relevant today.

He has been continuously in the Fire Service for the past 33 years and he says I have enjoyed every minute of it. I have had fun and loved my chosen career.

CFO Hollinsid said: "I have been Deputy Chief Fire Officer for 15 years and I have on occasion been Acting CFO.

"It is a challenge at the moment because I do not have the support of a deputy, but that will soon be remedied."

Speaking about the discipline in the Fire Service which is paramilitary, many ex-firefighters now have key positions in both the private and public sectors.

He said the Fire Service has changed, in 1969 they responded to 1,500 calls, in to 2001, there were 6,000 calls. There are also alarms sprinkler systems as well Halon and other fire extinguishing devices.

He attributes the lack of fires to Fire Prevention education, people are more aware of the safety issues now.

To support the hospital with emergencies, in 1999, 55 firefighters were trained as Emergency Medical Technician's (EMT's) and out of which there are 19 trained as Emergency Medical Technician's Intermediate (EMTI's), which means that they can administer intravenous drips.

To save on response time in emergencies, Clearwater Fire Station responds to East End fires and other emergencies as far west as Radnor Road in Shelly Bay. Hamilton Fire Station responds from Radnor Road west to Longford Hill, in Warwick. Port Royal responds to calls from Longford to Ireland Island.

Mr. Hollinsid said: "This is not set in gold, sometimes, they have to respond to where ever there is a need."

Firefighters also now have fresher work uniforms and will soon have smarter dress uniforms for parades and other official duties. There are also now six female firefighters since the first female firefighter began in 1986.

The St. George's Fire Brigade, is separate and is staffed by volunteers. He encourages young Bermudians to strive, saying "whoever they are and which ever part of town they come from," they should "look at what they have within and aim high".