First Responders
Surrey Fire Service Firefighter Profile
Derek Jung
Only eight months into his career, Derek Jung vacillates between two looks. His first look is serious. As he moves around the fire hall he scowls in deep concentration as he checks the truck, the tools and his safety equipment. When he’s satisfied with what he sees, he moves on to the rest of the hall, never sitting still for long. It’s a common look among new firefighters as they try and cement a good reputation with their fellow firefighters, but Derek’s serious look has gravity. His other look is completely different. He shows all of his teeth as he smiles like a man who just can’t believe his good fortune. He gets that smile when you ask him about getting hired by the Surrey Fire Service.
Derek is 26 and starting a career that will see him through the next thirty years of his life. He points out that this career is “the exact opposite of where I started.” After a brief foray into accounting, Derek started looking for his calling. The minute he stepped on to the station floor as a volunteer for the Township of Langley, he knew he was going to be a firefighter. He loved everything about the teamwork, the drills and learning new skills. It took him two years to complete his basic firefighter training and receive his certifications through the Township. During that time he took additional fire related courses at the Justice Institute of British Columbia in order to improve his chances of getting hired. His hard work paid off and a year later he was hired by Surrey.
His advice to other potential recruits is to stay focused and never give up. “But”, he cautions, “don’t get so caught up that you forget to step back and make sure you’re still on track.”
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING A CAREER FIREFIGHTER, PLEASE CONTACT TIM DYKEMAN OF SURREY FIRE SERVICE RECRUITMENT AT 604-543-6739.
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