Watch Manager Billy McAloon.
For Watch Manager Billy, fighting fires is in his blood.
Determined to follow in his Station Officer grandad’s footsteps, at a young age Billy set his sights on becoming a firefighter.
In 2006, aged 18, he joined the service as a retained firefighter, working as a bricklayer, scaffolder and in civil engineering.
But all the while it was his mission to clinch a full-time role as a Firefighter.
He applied more than a dozen times to a range of services and brigades up and down the UK, before being offered a full-time role with CDDFRS
From supporting cadets to undergoing trauma instructor training, Billy, who is also an Associate Fitness Advisor and Mental Health First Aider, gets involved with every aspect of fire service life that he can.
If all that isn’t enough, he also manages the service’s TikTok account, offering the public a behind the scenes look at life on station. His insightful videos have helped him wrack up over 40,000 followers.
Over the years, Billy has been based at various stations but the Spennymoor native currently serves as Watch Manager for Spennymoor Reds, with the posting having an extra poignant meaning for him.
He said: “My granda was a Station Officer at Spennymoor Fire station during the 1970s and 80s.
“I felt proud to join the service he had once worked for and for him to be able to see me in my uniform.
“A great moment was joining him in 2010 at the new Spennymoor Fire station when he was given the opportunity to officially open the station with the Chief Fire Officer.”
Discussing what he loves about the job, Billy added: “There’s so much I Iove about the job.
"You really do not know what incident you are going to get each time the bells go in. Every day is different.
“Meanwhile, a big part of my role as a Watch Manager is supporting my watch and helping them develop to their full potential and bring the best out of them when its needed most.
“Meeting new people every day and being able to offer help and assistance to members of the public when they need it most – that’s the best feeling.
“I also love how much joy we can bring to people when they see us driving past. The difference a wave can make always amazes me.”
When Billy’s not at Spennymoor Fire Station, the family man can be found at home or on the school run with his four children – who he calls the greatest achievements of his life – and his wife Philippa. He’s also a keen runner and boxer.
