WHITE HOUSE, Westmoreland — “It is one of the best feelings when you can save lives,” said Firefighter of the Year for the Westmoreland Fire Brigade Division, Corporal Adrian McCallum, as he reflected on one of his most memorable occasions while on the job.

McCallum was among 51 firefighters from the division who were shown special appreciation during this year’s awards and banquet function held recently at Sandals South Coast.

McCallum has served more than 12 years in the division, working between Savanna-la-Mar and Negril. He shared with the Jamaica Observer memories of responding to the scene of a crash where he was able to assist in saving the life of a man pinned to the dashboard of the vehicle.

“I could hear the cries of this man wanting help. Being a part of that, where I could assist in this man being extricated and also taken to the hospital, that was a remarkable moment for me. Because, at that point, I could almost feel the cry of this man wanting help. It’s one of the best feelings when you can actually save a life, which reflects our motto, ‘Saving lives and protecting property’,” stated McCallum.

The appreciative firefighter believes he was among those recognised because of his attitude towards his job.

“It doesn’t matter what you are going through, always have a positive attitude towards yourself and others,” were McCallum’s words of encouragement for others.

“I didn’t start out being one of the best firefighters or anything like that. But whenever I fall short, I’m humble enough to learn from others. So there are other firefighters out there that you can learn a lot from,” he said.

McCallum’s colleague, Sergeant Kevin Green, walked away with the Most Disciplined Firefighter of the Year award. Green has served 15 years with the brigade between Negril and Savanna-la-Mar. For nine of those years he was an emergency medical technician (EMT) within the Emergency Medical Services Department — a service offered by the brigade.

Green said that being disciplined comes naturally to him.

“It is a pleasure to be awarded the Most Disciplined Firefighter of the Year for 2024. It is always within me to be disciplined, based on the people around me in the Jamaica Fire Brigade,” he told the Observer.

“Every firefighter has to be disciplined; however, I would say, for this year, I think I stand out. That’s the reason why they selected me,” he added.

Green had words of encouragement for his younger colleagues.

“Stay disciplined, because once you’re disciplined you will reap the reward. [In the] Jamaica Fire Brigade, we have good mentorship in terms of good leaders. As a result, that’s why I’m here tonight and I have received this award. So once you keep in line with the rules and regulations of the Jamaica Fire Brigade, then you will reap the reward. So for all the youngsters in the Jamaica Fire Brigade, just keep on doing what you’re doing in terms of discipline,” stated the 39-year-old.

Green also shared his most memorable moment on the job. It came in his first year. He said there was an assault case in which a woman walked into the station seeking medical help. Assistance was provided to her but she later refused to cooperate in providing information requested by the firefighter.

“I tried to get the information. She said she was not giving me any information and she gave me some colourful words, if you understand, some nice colourful words. I did my job the same way. I deal with the wounds and everything. She went away, and approximately an hour [later] she came back and she said, ‘Sir, I’m very sorry about what I said,’ in terms of the colourful words. And she said she appreciates what I did and how I react when it comes to that,” relayed Green.

“Once you’re a firefighter, you’re able to keep calm in every and any situation. So regardless, the public might cuss you or they said some colourful words to you, you’re going to keep calm. I learned that with good mentorship in the Jamaica Fire Brigade, you will always keep calm in every and any emergency situation,” he added.

Another awardee was retired Corporal Neri Allen who served 42 years.

During the function, Acting Assistant Commissioner Rudolph Seaton shared his hope that other divisions in the region revive this event, which serves to motivate firefighters. Region Four comprises St James, Hanover, Westmoreland, and St Elizabeth.

“It’s one of the motivational efforts for personnel within these divisions because at the end of the year there are different persons who contribute to the development of the division and are awarded at the ceremony. They are either given certificates or plaques and the retirees who also serve the brigade for a number of years are also called back and they are awarded at these functions,” Seaton told the Observer after the event.

“Then you have other persons who would have assisted in special capacities to keep the division up and running — like the firefighter of the year and most disciplined firefighter. People really look forward to those awards, and you know it’s a big thing for them. It helps to motivate staff; at least give them that drive to go through another year. It’s something that we want to push all the divisions within Area Four to have,” added Seaton.

Westmoreland has been staging the awards for more than 15 years, and Seaton explained that it is costly.

“It takes a lot of time and money to really get these functions off the ground. It’s something that you have to plan for and have something in place. For Westmoreland, it is a product that they have cherished over the years. So it’s a bit easier,” Seaton said.

He noted that internal and external stakeholders have contributed significantly to making the initiative a success.

“We must thank the hotels and the business community who really come on board,” stated Seaton.