Fireman reflects on near30-year service

A Worthing firefighter who helped to save lives across the globe is retiring after almost 30 years of service.

Joe Sacco is part of West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service’sTechnicalRescueUnit. In his career, he has been sent to Indonesia, Japan and Nepal to help in the wake of natural distasters.

He said: “Looking back on my career with West Sussex, I would like to thank the service for giving me the opportunity todowhatIlove.Icouldn’thave done this without the support of my family and my wife, who havesupportedmewhenfamily plans, birthdays and holidays have been put on hold while I am deployed to respond to an incident.”

Joe joined the fire service in April, 1991, as a retained firefighter at Worthing Fire Station and after two years at Horley,hereturnedtohishome town in a full-time role.

Not long after, he also joined West Sussex’s volunteer International Search and Rescue team. But following the 9/11 terror attacks, focus on disaster relief was stepped up globally, and Joe joined the newly formed UK Search and Rescue. This has seen him take part in training exercises across the world with other emergency service staff in Europe and beyond. His first overseas deployment was in 2009 when he helped in the wake of the earthquake in Indonesia,followedbyJapanin 2011 and Nepal in 2015. He said: “As much as being part of those international rescue missions lefttheirmark,itwasattending theShorehamAirshowdisaster in 2015 that proved to be the most challenging.”

Butahappiersidetotherole hasbeenthemanyhundredsof animals he has reunited with their owners over the years; from dogs and cats to horses and cows.