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Ask CPT Moy Hong what he brings home from his travels, and it’s likely not postcards or fridge magnets. Instead, he collects T-shirts from fire departments around the world. Behind each T-shirt is a story and a friendship with another firefighter who, like him, is dedicated to saving lives.

CPT Moy Hong, a Course Officer at the Specialist Training Centre, Civil Defence Academy, shares his specialised knowledge on hazardous materials with local and international course participants. He also mentors officer cadets undergoing the HazMat Specialist Course as part of the Rota Commander Course. PHOTO: SCDF

“I started collecting the T-shirts by chance,” he said with a smile. “During the Lunar New Year in 2019, my father and I were visiting our relatives in Malaysia. After the visits, we happened to drive past a fire station. I had just become a Rota Commander not too long ago, so out of curiosity, we decided to stop and take a look. The firefighters welcomed us with open arms, and their warmth and friendliness left a deep impression on me.”

“After a short chat, one of the firefighters asked if we could exchange T-shirts. As I did not have one with me, I quickly went home, found one of my own SCDF T-shirts and returned to exchange it with him,” he recalled.

CPT Moy Hong’s (right) first T-shirt exchange with the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia. PHOTO: CPT MOY HONG

A few months later, CPT Moy Hong exchanged T-shirts with Malaysia’s Fire and Rescue Department again during Exercise Chembridge. This bilateral exercise tested the joint response of Singapore and Malaysia to chemical spillage incidents at the Tuas Second Link. 

“That’s when I realised it is an unofficial tradition among firefighters, and it sparked my interest to collect T-shirts from fire departments around the world,” he said. 

CPT Moy Hong gently folds the first T-shirt that he received from the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia. PHOTO: SCDF

Since then, exchanging T-shirts with international firefighters has become a small but meaningful tradition for CPT Moy Hong whenever he travels overseas.

“As these visits to overseas fire stations are impromptu, I will carry a few SCDF T-shirts with me,” he said. “With the help of translation apps, I will introduce myself as a fellow firefighter from Singapore and express my wish to exchange a T-shirt with them.”

His wife often joins him on these visits. “Sometimes, I would get cold feet before knocking on their door,” he admitted with a laugh. “But my wife would say, ‘You are already here, just go in!’ She also helps to take photos of every exchange.”

(From left to right) Among CPT Moy Hong’s most treasured T-shirts are those from the London Fire Brigade, Hong Kong Fire Services Department, Civil Protection Department of Malta, and the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia. PHOTO: SCDF

CPT Moy Hong at a fire station in London, United Kingdom. PHOTO: CPT MOY HONG

“When I visited a fire station in London, they invited us in warmly and showed us around,” he said. “Halfway through the visit, they had to leave the fire station for an emergency call. My wife was so excited to see them spring into action, and it made the visit memorable.”

“Every visit to a fire station has a unique story, and I treasure every interaction,” CPT Moy Hong shared. “I have met firefighters who eagerly recounted their previous visits to Singapore and Central Fire Station. Through these informal discussions, we learnt more about each other’s firefighting operations, equipment, and unique challenges.”

CPT Moy Hong with a T-shirt from the San Francisco Fire Department. PHOTO: SCDF

CPT Moy Hong with a T-shirt from the Special Tactical Operation and Rescue Team of Malaysia. PHOTO: SCDF

Over the years, his collection has grown to about 30 T-shirts from fire departments in Hong Kong, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, among others.

The T-shirts are neatly stacked in a large duffel bag, which he fondly calls his “treasure box”. “I wear the Dri-Fit ones often because they are comfortable,” he said. “I keep the other T-shirts in the bag so that they remain in good condition.”

CPT Moy Hong at a fire station in Tokyo, Japan. PHOTO: CPT MOY HONG

As a Course Officer at the Civil Defence Academy, CPT Moy Hong often has the opportunity to conduct courses for international participants. Through these courses, he has not only fostered close ties with international firefighters but also found opportunities to exchange T-shirts.

“Last year, we hosted a memorable group from the Republic of Korea for the international HazMat Responder Course. At the end of the two-week course, we exchanged T-shirts as a token of friendship,” he shared, adding that he is looking forward to meeting them again during his upcoming family trip to Korea.

T-shirts from the Korea Fire Service, with the firefighter’s name embroidered on them. PHOTO: SCDF

“We also host participants from the Sultanate of Oman, the Republic of Malta, the United Arab Emirates, and several other countries,” he said. “When I teach them, I’m not just sharing knowledge on hazardous materials. I also share about Singapore’s culture and diversity, so that we can learn more about each other’s backgrounds too.”

Over time, CPT Moy Hong’s growing collection has come to represent more than just travel memories. “Each T-shirt reminds me of the friendships I have made along the way. It’s inspiring to meet like-minded people who share the same calling,” he said, adding that they keep in touch through social media.

CPT Moy Hong at a fire station in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He plans to visit fire stations in Central Europe and Australia in the next few years. PHOTO: CPT MOY HONG

Glancing at his duffel bag, he said, “When we exchange T-shirts, there is mutual trust that we will treat it with respect and wear it properly with pride.”

With each addition to his “wardrobe of memories”, CPT Moy Hong gains a deeper appreciation for the bonds that he shares with fellow firefighters around the world. “No matter where we come from, firefighters are the same at heart - friendly, dedicated, and always ready to save lives,” he said with a smile.