-national awardee recounts life in the fire service

“THE other firefighters could not hear us, engines were pumping water, our vision was obscured and oxygen was leaving us; we had to make a choice,” said national awardee and veteran firefighter Compton Sparman as he recounted one of his most daring but, ecstatic experiences.

The incident about which he spoke occurred in the 1980s, when the old Textile Mill was on fire for days.

There he was in the midst of things, trapped with his colleague Jerome Sankar who was panting for breath and hoping that someone would hear their calls for help.
After being trapped for about 10 minutes, it was time for the duo to make a choice. Eventually, Sparman and his colleague decided to jump from one part to another.
“We were eventually rescued…I got some smoke inhalation problems and went to the hospital for some oxygen,” said Sparman, adding that it was time to get back in the game right after receiving treatment.

The now retired firefighter immediately went back to the mill to help extinguish the fire which was raging for days.

After serving his country for 36 years and being part of many heroic efforts, Sparman was conferred with the Disciplined Services Medal by President David Granger on Friday.
“I felt pleased that I spent 36 years in the Guyana Fire Service and I feel pleased that I have been acknowledged,” said Sparman.

Sparman, who joined the fire service at the age of 18 in June 1982, never regrets his decision and would even do it all over again if he had the opportunity.
“If I live my life again I would be a firefighter, because it brings you joy when persons are in distress and you could prevent such an occurrence, or if someone calls for help and you could respond,” he said.

Since he was little he wanted to be a part of the military or paramilitary because of the excitement and action that follow.

“There is a lot of excitement going on and in that excitement you have to be focused and have a control of the situation,” said Sparman.
Aside from the seriousness of the job, his belief is that with the amount of heat a firefighter faces, there is no way they can go to hell.
Being a firefighter is a noble service profession – one on which average citizens rely heavily in case of emergencies.

Firefighters don’t just run into burning buildings, they are often first responders on the scene of explosions, natural disasters, wildfires, traffic accidents and other catastrophes. The demanding job can take both a physical and mental toll on those who perform it.

One of the primary risks of being a firefighter is that of personal physical injury. Firefighters are susceptible to burns, smoke inhalation and crush injuries from collapsing structures.
They can suffer from heat exhaustion, as well as long-term, job-related illnesses such as asthma, persistent coughing, heart disease, and cancer and lung damage.

Due to the highly physical nature of the job, all manner of bodily harm can befall firefighters in the line of duty. Some physical fallout from the profession may not materialise until years down the road.