Brendan joined the Fire Service in 1968. He became the first official Engine Driver in S&B Fire Brigade. He was promoted to Station Officer in 1974. He said:

'When I joined, Francie McAteer was Station Officer. I joined because Seamus Neagle asked if I was interested. I said I didn't know, and he said "We'll go over anyway".

He recalled the early days: "They had no Fire Engine then. I had a wee blue van with a rack on the roof, and I had my own ladders". He said that everything had to go into the van - ladders, pump, equipment and the men...it was a tight squeeze!