Slain firefighter remembered for his fearlessness

Sirens from emergency services' and first responders' vehicles echoed along North Street in downtown Kingston yesterday, signifying the final call of duty for firefighter Shamar Myrie.

It was a solemn display of solidarity and respect for the slain firefighter, who was transported to the North Street Seventh-day Adventist Church atop a decommissioned fire truck, which served as a hearse for the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB). With eight of his colleagues aboard - who travelled from the York Park Fire Station, where the 33-year-old once served - the silver casket draped with the national flag was lowered and presented with a salute and guard of honour.

Myrie enlisted in the JFB on September 6, 2015 and endured three months of vigorous training at the Madge Saunders Conference Centre in Tower Isle, St Mary. One of his batchmates who carried his coffin on Sunday, expressed his disbelief of Myrie's death. Myrie, of Wildman Street, Kingston, was stabbed during an altercation with another Jamaican man in Gaylord, Michigan, on August 17, just days before he was expected to return home after going overseas for vacation leave. Both men were employed at a T-shirt-printing company as temporary workers.

"He was passionate about the job, he was jovial, always one to encourage you, always have a smile; he was a good person. One of the best firefighters on the job, the brigade has really lost a real one. He was brave, so courageous, fearless, and he is one of my squaddies weh me say me will go in any fire with him because him nuh back from nothing. Once you have him on your team, you're good," the grieving fireman shared. He said that he had Myrie on his team when battling raging fires at the Riverton City dump and the massive fire that ravaged the Facey Commodity warehouse in 2021.

The firefighter shared further that Myrie was an easy-going person, who rarely stressed about life.

"Never a dull moment with him," he said. "All now I don't believe it, and to know that [it is] someone you work with, someone you have a good rapport wih and you train with, it hits different. I work at a lot of funerals, me carry a whole heap of caskets in this capacity [as pallbearer], but this one,really shake me up. A the first me really a carry one of my squaddie; and he is not even a squaddie - he is my friend," he told THE STAR.

Like Myrie's batchmate, his family, friends and residents of the central Kingston community were distraught about his death. His sister, Shaqueena Mattocks, clung tightly to his casket as she viewed his body for the last time before the thanksgiving service started at 1 p.m.

"Me can't believe my brother gone," she wailed, clutching tightly to the arms of relatives for support.

Another relative, Barrington Mattocks, was similarly emotionally, as he broke down in tears after looking at Myrie's body. Barrington shared that Myrie loved parties and was eager about accomplishing his goal of building a home. He says the family is seeking closure for Myrie's death.

"Dem kill me yute, Jah know. Me shouldn't even deh a nuh funeral, a wedding me fi deh right now. Him love him job, but true dem nah pay him good, him go look a extra job because everybody want look good and feed dem family," he said. "We nuh feel satisfied how him gone, ecause we nuh know how it start, what transpired or nothing. We nuh feel good."

Myrie, a past student of Excelsior High School, was stationed at the Trench Town Fire Station up to time of his death. He is survived by two sons and his mother, Shelly King.