A HEROIC fireman who has been saving people for the last 30 years has been awarded for his dedication. Sean McCauley, who has served at North Kensington Fire Station on Ladbroke Grove, throughout his career, was presented with a long service award by Lond

A HEROIC fireman who has been saving people for the last 30 years has been awarded for his dedication.

Sean McCauley, who has served at North Kensington Fire Station on Ladbroke Grove, throughout his career, was presented with a long service award by London Fire Brigade (LFB) chiefs after notching up the impressive milestone.

The 50-year-old from Catford, south London, jacked in his job as a trainee mechanic in 1979 to join the LFB and has never looked back.

He said: "I was an apprentice mechanic and worked for a firm that used to make fire engines.

"I thought instead of fixing them maybe it would be good to ride in one.

"I've no regrets at all working for the brigade, it has been great, very fulfilling and a worthwhile job."

In 2002, Mr McCauley's son Lee followed in his father's footsteps, making him one of the proudest fireman in London.

Sean said: "He had tried other jobs but one day he said to me 'I think I'll give the brigade a go.'

"We've been at the same incidents and have even been standby at the same station.

"The other guys couldn't believe we were father and son."

Throughout the last three decades, Mr McCauley has tackled a mixture of incidents including the Alexandra Palace fire in 1980, which was at the time the biggest blaze in the city since the Second World War, but sadly he also had to deal with some tragic events.

He said: "We we're called to a fire alarm sounding and on our way back to the station, we were asked to attend a bus crash. When we arrived we quickly realised that it was a fire engine that had gone over on its side.

"Firefighters didn't wear seat belts in those days and my close friend from a neighbouring station was thrown from the engine and was trapped underneath the vehicle.

"My crew and I helped to release him but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

"After this incident it was made compulsory for firefighters to wear seat belts."

Throughout his career Mr McCauley has witnessed changes in the LFB, which includes the relationship between firefighters and the community.

He said: "The brigade is much more visible now and the fire safety work firefighters do in the local community really help to save lives and reduce the amount of fires we attend.

"I would recommend the fire service to everyone, it's been my whole life and I've enjoyed every minute of it.