Singaporean Volunteer Firefighter Is Also Studying, Wins Respect From Us All

Leaving Singapore to study or work overseas can be a daunting process. As someone who’s done so, the struggle to balance studies with work and adjusting to another culture is real.

But this Singaporean is taking the balancing act to another level.

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You may have heard of the bushfires ravaging Australia currently – 70,000 firefighters are battling these fires on a voluntary basis as part of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service.

Mark Yeong, a 22-year-old Singaporean son studying at the University of Sydney, is one of these volunteer firefighters. But on top of his studies, he’s also working part-time.

Singaporean volunteer firefighter had to undergo 1-month training

In an interview with The Straits Times (ST), Mr Yeong related the dangers of the work, which required the 2nd-year physiology student to undergo training for around a month. This included both theoretical and practical training.

Describing the heat on his first jobs as “so intense… it felt like (his) face would melt”, the job has claimed 2 lives after a falling tree fell on their truck, BBC reported.

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However, the firefighters’ work is bearing fruit. RFS reports over 7,000 homes and over 600 facilities saved.

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Mr Yeong had a close shave himself.

While en-route to a fire in Mount Irvine, located at the Blue Mountains National Park, their route was halted by a fallen tree on the road. As the way was being cut through so they could proceed, a burning tree started to sway.

Mr Yeong managed to call out to everyone to watch out and they scampered away just in time – the tree fell just 1.5 metres from where he had been standing.

Intense risks, but he wasn’t going to “sit around and do nothing”

When he was approached by the captain of a local fire brigade – a family friend from church – to volunteer, there was no hesitation, despite the risks involved.

Mr Yeong related to ST that volunteering as a firefighter was part of giving up his time to Sydney, where he studies.

I wanted to volunteer to prove to myself that I have the heart to give up my time for the community where I live.

He also had strong words for the Australian government, whom he believed had not adequately dealt with the rampaging bushfires or the climate change issues that have contributed to the ongoing fires.

But there are still things he can do on his own, even though none of them are being paid.

Heartening to see a Singaporean overseas fighting the good fight

We’re very heartened to hear that a Singaporean overseas is doing his bit in another country and making us proud.

It goes to show that it does not matter where we are — climate change is a global issue and more than ever, the world has to join together to fight this disaster.

Respect la, bro.

Featured image adapted from The Straits Times.