Meet our people: Jerry’s fighting fire on Ascension Island

No two days are the same for Jerry Williams, who works as a firefighter as part of Mitie’s contract with the UK Ministry of Defence Strategic Command on Ascension Island. It’s an isolated but strategically-located 33.97 square mile landmass in the South Atlantic Ocean. Jerry shared his experiences working for the UK’s leading facilities management company.

Hi Jerry – can you tell us about your role?

I’m a firefighter on Ascension Island and have lived here for around 24 years. I’m originally from the island of Saint Helena, which is about 800 miles away and is another part of the Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha British overseas territory. My job involves responding to all fire-related emergencies, alarms and road traffic collisions. That can involve driving the fire engines – we have two Volvo Saxons. The safety record on Ascension Island is very good. We’ve had a few car fires, but no-one was injured. There have also been some small domestic fires, which were extinguished by those involved. My daily duties include inspecting and testing firefighting equipment, servicing fire extinguishers and hydrants and conducting fire awareness training for many of the people working on Ascension Island.

Wow, it sounds like you’re kept busy. Do you get much time off?

Of course. Ascension Island has been a strategic outpost since the 18th century and is an interesting place to live and explore. The highest peak, Green Mountain, contains a planned forest. The idea for it came from Charles Darwin, who visited in 1836 and found the island rocky and barren. It still has at least 44 dormant volcanic craters.

I love the subtropical climate, which means year-round warm weather with an average 31 degrees. The surrounding waters are abundant with marine life. Turtles make their way here from Brazil to nest on the beaches. Life for me is very good. I enjoy fishing and cook-ups with friends, plus chilling on the beach or by myself. There are clubs to join if you want to go diving or help with conservation, as well as social walks and of course the pub for having a few drinks. You can be as busy or relaxed as you choose.

So what’s the best thing about working as a firefighter on Ascension Island?

I enjoy not having to be in the office all day. The majority of my job requires me to work outside and in different places on the island. I could be carrying out practical training, servicing equipment or meeting new people. It’s never dull. Also because standard operating procedures are changing all the time, I get plenty of training. There are also opportunities to move up the ladder with Mitie – but it’s up to the individual on how far up they want to go.

What skills do you need to succeed in your role?

You have to be qualified as a firefighter in the first place. I’m Ministry of Defence certified due to completing my basic 17-week course at the Fire Service Central Training Establishment in Manston, Kent. Then when you land the job, it’s about getting along with your colleagues – you really do rely on each other. Trust and having each other’s back is crucial. I also think it’s important to listen. We have different backgrounds and experiences, so someone might have a better way of getting the job done. And my main advice is to be honest. Don’t try to pull the wool over people’s eyes. You will only get found out.

At a glance

• Name: Jerry Williams
• Age: 43
• Role: Firefighter, Ascension Island
• Favourite food: My parents’ cooking back home.
• If I could choose a superpower, it would be: Something every human being will benefit from.
• Motto: “Same old, same old,” or “Go big or go home.”

At a glance

Name:

Jerry Williams

Age:

43

Role:

Firefighter, Ascension Island

Favourite food:

My parents’ cooking back home.

If I could choose a superpower, it would be:

Something every human being will benefit from.

Motto:

“Same old, same old,” or “Go big or go home.”