Jim Jung didn’t completely listen to his Chicago firefighter father when he said he didn’t want any of his five children following in his career footsteps. Jung, 51, has lived in Clarendon Hills since 1970 and became a part-time, paid on-call firefighter in the village nine years later.
Q. What are your childhood memories of your dad working as a firefighter?
A. I was always proud of my dad being a firefighter. I guess I worried some about him going to work, but he always assured us that he was safe. I found out much later that really wasn’t the case.
Q. Why didn’t your father want you or any of your siblings to pursue careers as firefighters?
A. He loved the job, but I think he wanted his kids to go to college. He said we could do better. He told us when I was about ready to start high school that he didn’t want any of his kids being a firefighter.
Q. What were your thoughts when he made that statement?
A. I understood what he meant, but I was still interested. They had a cadet program at the Fire Department in Clarendon Hills when I was in high school, and I got involved in that and loved it. It was something to get involved in, and I loved the camaraderie and bonding.
Q. But you decided to not pursue a full-time career as a firefighter?
A. No, I went through the cadet program in Clarendon Hills and started working part-time at the department. I would come home from college and work here. I’ve been working a full-time job in sales for years now. I work in direct marketing, but I have continued to work part-time as a firefighter.
Q. How many hours do you work as a firefighter?
A. I generally work two 12-hour shifts each week. Our shifts are from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., or from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. I always work the night shift, and I have my suit here, so when I wake up in the morning I shower here, put on my suit and go to my full-time job in direct marketing.
Q. Are you able to get sufficient sleep on the nights you work at the Fire Department?
A. Usually, I am. We have some really busy nights with a lot of calls, but it usually work out well. I don’t have any trouble sleeping here.”
Q. How long have you been a captain, and what do you enjoy most about being an officer?
A. I’ve been a captain for about five years, and I love working with the younger guys. What’s changed most over the years is that there’s a lot more required training. We now have 12 to 15 hours a month of mandatory training.
Q. You aren’t the only one in your family who has worked for the Clarendon Hills Fire Department?
A. No. My dad worked here until he moved, and my twin brother and nephew work here now.
