Watch Commander Tommy Torbitt celebrates 50 years of service with Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service

(L-R) - Deputy Lord Lieutenant Mr Andrew Frazer, NIFRS Chairperson Jay Colville, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt, Shirley Torbitt, WC Tommy Torbitt, CFRO Aidan Jennings

A Larne firefighter who has devoted half a century to protecting his community has been honoured for a lifetime of extraordinary public service.

Watch Commander Tommy Torbitt, an On-Call Firefighter based at Larne Fire Station, has marked an exceptional 50 years of service with the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS), earning praise from colleagues, civic leaders and government representatives alike.

The milestone was celebrated on Wednesday evening (28 January 2026) at Larne Fire Station, where Tommy was joined by family, friends and fellow firefighters, alongside Health Minister Mike Nesbitt, MP Robin Swann, Minister for Communities Gordon Lyons, Deputy Lord Lieutenant Mr Andrew Frazer, Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Jackson Minford, and local council representatives.

Having joined the fire service in the mid-1970s, Tommy has dedicated 50 years of his life to NIFRS and has served as a Watch Commander for more than two decades. Throughout his career, he is estimated to have devoted around 140 hours per week to his On-Call role — a level of commitment that colleagues say consistently went above and beyond the call of duty.

His service has spanned major incidents, day-to-day emergencies and decades of change within the fire and rescue service, yet his focus has remained firmly on protecting the people of Larne and the surrounding area.

WC Tommy Torbitt and family

Tommy’s courage and professionalism have been recognised at the highest level. He was awarded the King’s Fire Service Medal (KFSM) in the 2023 New Year’s Honours List, one of the most prestigious accolades in the fire service.

Earlier in his career, in 1998, he received a personal Chief Fire Officers Commendation after carrying out a rescue outside a high-rise building — an incident that colleagues say exemplified his calm leadership under pressure.

Beyond emergency response, Tommy has also played a key role in strengthening community safety. Widely regarded as a trusted ambassador for NIFRS, he has helped establish Larne Fire Station as a focal point for community engagement, prevention and partnership working.

CFRO Aidan Jennings, Deputy Lord Lieutenant Mr Andrew Frazer, NIFRS Chairperson Jay Colville, , Minister for Communities Gordon Lyons, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt, Shirley Torbitt, WC Tommy Torbitt, Mayor of MEA Jackson Minford, Mr Robin Swann MP, NIFRS Area Commander Ryan Thompson

6404 (L-R) - Deputy Lord Lieutenant Mr Andrew Frazer, NIFRS Chairperson Jay Colville, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt, Shirley Torbitt, WC Tommy Torbitt, CFRO Aidan Jennings

Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service Northern Area Commander Ryan Thompson paid tribute to Tommy’s lasting impact.

“On behalf of everyone in NIFRS and on a personal level, I would like to congratulate Tommy on reaching this significant milestone. He embodies the very best of NIFRS, and it is no surprise to see so many people celebrate him. Tommy has done and continues to do everything in his power to help protect our community during his 50-year career.

“Tommy is a true leader and an exceptional Firefighter. He is a credit to himself and to the crews in Larne Fire Station. He has been instrumental in creating and building community partnerships, which are so fundamentally vital to the work here at NIFRS.”

Colleagues describe Tommy as a steady presence, mentor and role model — someone whose leadership has shaped generations of firefighters and helped embed a culture of service and professionalism within the station.

As he celebrates 50 years in the fire service, tributes from across Northern Ireland reflect not only a remarkable career, but the profound difference one individual can make to the safety and resilience of an entire community.