Flame not out for Smethwick fireman Steve after 40 years on watch
Not many people spend 40 years working in the same trade these days, but firefighter Steve Newman has not just been in the service for that length of time, he has also been part of the same watch.
The 61-year-old has been an integral part of white watch at Smethwick fire station since March 24, 1975, just 12 weeks after he completed his training.
And the grandfather said he still enjoyed his work, even though he is set to retire soon, adding he did not think there would be many firefighters around the country who were still with the same watch after 40 years.
He said: "It is an achievement, but it is just one of those things. I just do my job and my time has built up. I don't dislike anything about the job. I really like everything about the job.
"I love the camaraderie with the other guys and being part of the fire service is a great thing because it has a real family feel to it. It is like a big family."
He started in the fire service just nine days after the IRA Birmingham pub bombings and has attended some major incidents, including a massive blaze at Lowes Timber Yard in Waterfall Lane, Cradley Heath, while he has also attended fatal house fires and car crashes.
However, the father-of-two, who lives in Alrewas, said he was glad he had never had to attend an incident where a child had died, adding by quirk of fate those calls had been dealt with by his colleagues.
The biggest change in his time had been in the nature of the job. He said when he first joined crews could be called out to a broader variety of incidents, while firefighters were now expected to do more work with schools, giving talks. The equipment has also improved, he said, with the specialist cutting gear being more effective at its job than the old equipment he used to use.
He has two children- Gregg, 36 and Lucie Burnett, 35, as well as three grandchildren, Sam Burnett, 10, Harry Burnett, 12 and Alice Burnett, 10, while he lives with his wife Helen, 58.
