BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC/Gray News) – A Birmingham first responder knows firsthand just how dangerous the job can be.
Lt. Jerald Allman has served with the Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service for more than 20 years. And for the last year, he has continued to serve his community as an amputee after being injured on the job.
In 2011, he responded to a call where a nail hit his foot. As a diabetic, this became quite severe, resulting in the loss of two toes and, eventually, most of his left leg.
“It continued to cause problems and the infection spread throughout my foot and ankle,” Allman said.
Allman began wearing a prosthetic last year and returned to fighting fires and keeping the community safe.
“I put the prosthetic on and I haven’t taken it off since,” he said.
The 6-foot-8 firefighter joined the Birmingham Fire Department in 2001. That house fire call would change his life a decade later, but not his career.
Allman said he remained determined to return to work despite the numerous surgeries and with the support of his doctors and his fire crews, he was ready to make a comeback.
“I talked to the prosthetist and the surgeon, and they all said, ‘I think you can do it,’” Allman said. “If the doctors say you can do it, then you can do it!’”
Last October, he returned to the station, fighting fires and responding to emergency calls.
“This is something I love to do. I became a firefighter because of that passion. I like the action, the suspense — everything that comes with it,“ Allman said. ”I don’t want to end my career. That was my motivation and determination.”
He doesn’t consider himself an inspiration but hopes his story encourages others to keep going.
“If it does inspire people who find themselves in similar situations and feel like they can’t do anything anymore or are limited because of their amputation. If I can inspire them to think, ‘If he can do it, I can too,’ I’m glad to do it,” Allman said.
Allman also has taken on a new challenge, he is back in the classroom for the department’s Advanced EMT Cohort.
He is set to graduate from the program in February and has made history as the first firefighter with the department to serve with a prosthetic leg.
