By Milena Malaver
Miami Herald
MIAMI — Ignatius “Iggy” Carroll knew as a teen that he wanted to become a firefighter and that nothing would stand in his way.
“Ignatius has always been in awe of the fire department. He and his dad used to follow fire trucks just to see where they were going and what firefighters do,” said his mother Camille Carroll.
Ignatius Carroll’s journey went from following fire trucks as a boy to rising to the rank of fire rescue captain while being the public face of the department.
For years, if you caught a glimpse of Miami Fire Rescue on the evening news providing briefings on an apartment building or business on fire, chances are you saw Carroll’s familiar face. With his calm demeanor and reassuring presence, he became a recognizable figure to many Miami residents, often seen in his crisp white uniform, providing updates and information during emergencies.
After a 35-year career with Miami Fire Rescue, Carroll, 55, officially retired at the end of June. He is now on a new journey: becoming a civilian.
“At some point, everything comes to an end,” Carroll said. “I’m looking forward to rest and being able to enjoy more time with my family.”
Lifelong dream
Born in New Orleans in 1968, Carroll moved to Miami at age 5. His father Ignatius Carroll Sr ., originally from Mobile, Alabama, worked for Eastern Airlines before transitioning to an administrative role with the City of Miami’s police department.
His mother’s career as a registered nurse and the 1970s television show “Emergency!” inspired Carroll to pursue firefighting, a dream his father helped foster. His father arranged for him to ride along with a crew at Miami Fire Rescue’s Station 30 in Miami Shores, igniting a passion for firefighting that would last a lifetime.
“He was exceptional in the sense that at 16 years of age, he knew with absolute certainty what he wanted to do for a living,” said former Miami Fire Rescue Chief Maurice Kemp. “And he presented himself to the fire station. We all embraced him because of the passion that he showed.”
Carroll, the oldest of four sons, lost his father when he was 17, a pivotal moment that cemented his determination to pursue a career in public service.
“I fell in love with it,” Carroll said. “When my dad passed, I knew I wasn’t going to let anything stop me from pursuing this career.”
In 1989, at 19, Carroll joined the Miami Fire Department. He had to jump off a six-story building as part of a demonstration during his graduation.
“I remember the day I saw him graduating from the academy. He was on top of the building, about to jump as part of their training,” said Camille Carroll, 79. “My sister-in-law asked if I could watch, and I said, ‘I sure am going to watch. He’s going to see my eyes, and I’ll tell him, I know you can do this.’”
One of the most harrowing experiences of Ignatius Carroll’s career happened when he and his lieutenant were searching for a woman trapped inside a burning building on Northeast Second Avenue in 1995. The fire quickly escalated, trapping them on the second floor. They escaped through a window that had recently had its bars removed.
“There’s belief behind your life flashing before your eyes,” he said. “I called my mom right away to let her know I was okay.”
Carroll’s career evolved over the years. He became a paramedic, an inspector, and eventually, the department’s public information officer (PIO) in 2004.
“I’m probably considered one of those social butterflies,” he joked. “I enjoy talking to people, and they enjoy talking to first responders.”
In 2007, the state of Florida honored him as the first African-American recipient of the Public Information Officer of the Year Award.
“He is the face of the fire department,” said Kemp. “I was fire chief for eight years, and everywhere we went, everybody embraced Ignatius. I had to tell them who I was, but they knew Ignatius on sight.”
For Patrick Mardice, a chief fire officer for Miami-Dade County, Carroll’s support was invaluable.
“As a young Black guy seeking guidance, there weren’t many people there,” he said. “Iggy walked the talk, and he supported me. I was like a thorn in his side, always chasing fire trucks on my bicycle.”
Family affair
Carroll and his wife, Crystal, have two children, and their son, Emerson, 18, is now following in his father’s footsteps.
He soon plans to join the EMS cadet program with Miami Fire Rescue.
“Seeing him help others and all the things he was able to do inspired me,” said Emerson who recently graduated from Miami Senior High School. “This is a career I want to pursue, to do the same thing he did.”
His daughter Kennedy, 20, also learned valuable lessons from her father.
“My dad taught me respect, humility, and the importance of thinking before you act,” Kennedy said. “He showed me that respect is essential, even if others don’t show it to you, and he always remained humble. My dad has been on TV as long as I can remember.”
Kennedy is now a business student focusing on marketing at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, a public historically black university in Tallahassee. “He deserves this retirement. I’m so proud of him and carry the lessons he taught me daily.”
Though his days of showing up on the 11 o’clock news have come to an end as he begins his retirement, he’s not entirely stepping away from the fire service.
“This all comes at a time when my son graduated high school. I retired, but he wants to go into the fire service,” Carroll said. “So now I transition into working with him and getting him ready. I think that’s what that’ll keep me occupied for a little bit.”
©2024 Miami Herald.
Visit miamiherald.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
