Derek DeRose is an Elmwood Park firefighter, and he advises aspiring firefighters to get as much training as they can.
Q: Where did grow up and go to school?
A: I grew up in Elmwood Park. I went to Elmwood Park High School.
Q: How did you know that you wanted to be a firefighter?
A: My dad was a firefighter. He was in Bellwood for 28 years. When I got out of high school, I decided to study fire science.
Q: Where did you study fire science?
A: I went to Triton College.
Q: How did you get involved with working for the Elmwood Park Fire Department?
A: I started as a paid-on-call firefighter. I did that until I was hired full time.
Q: What’s your current position?
A: I’m a firefighter and EMT.
Q: What are your responsibilities?
A: We do our chores in the morning. We train usually from 10 until noon. After lunch, we’ll do more training.
Q: Have you ever had to save someone’s life?
A: We do it, a lot!
Q: It’s human instinct to run away from danger. How do you move past that during an emergency?
A: I would say training, practice and routine.
Q: What advice would you give someone who wants to be a firefighter?
A: I would say go to school. Now, some towns require firefighters to be a paramedic and have 60 college credit hours.
Q: What do you like to do for fun?
A: I like to play golf whenever I can.
Maryann Pisano is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
