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(From left) WO2 Muhammad Khairi Bin Khairudin from Ang Mo Kio Fire Station, SWO1 Khairudin Bin Mohamed Ali from the Civil Defence Academy, and SGT3 Khairul Azhar Bin Khairudin from Yishun Fire Station. PHOTO: SCDF
Before he wore the SCDF uniform and responded to his first emergency call, SWO1 Khairudin Bin Mohamed Ali was a young boy running through the corridors of the Geylang Fire Station quarters. The rumble of fire engines responding to calls and the close-knit camaraderie among firefighters shaped his earliest childhood memories.
“My late father was a firefighter at Geylang Fire Station. I was born in the fire station’s quarters and grew up surrounded by firefighters,” SWO1 Khairudin recalled fondly.
In 1985, at the age of 20, he joined the Singapore Fire Service as a firefighter and later became an SCDF officer when the Singapore Fire Service merged with the Civil Defence in 1989. Deciding on his career path at a young age, he felt that it was a natural extension of the world he had always known.
After completing his firefighter training, SWO1 Khairudin served at Central Fire Station for about six years before being posted to Woodlands Fire Station, where he spent the next 26 years. He gradually took on more responsibilities, before assuming the role of a Deputy Rota Commander, leading his firefighters on the frontline.
“As a firefighter, I have seen incidents where casualties did not survive,” SWO1 Khairudin shared. “These experiences remind me to value my family. That is why I will check in on them often.”
Through observations at the fire station and during operations, SWO1 Khairudin has brought many life lessons home. At the dinner table, he would share stories with his family, emphasising the importance of discipline, humility, and responsibility.
“I always tell the younger officers and my children to give their best. In this job, you must have empathy. Put yourself in the shoes of the people we are helping. Think about how you would feel if it were your own family,” he said firmly.
Today, SWO1 Khairudin is a Senior Course Specialist at the Civil Defence Academy. He teaches advanced firefighting skills, passing down knowledge and tactics in high-rise firefighting, basement fires and industrial fires. With four decades of experience, he adds value to the training by sharing nuggets of wisdom with his trainees.
“When I first joined the SCDF, I was guided by my seniors. Now, it is my turn to guide others. Teaching the next generation of firefighters and watching them grow gives me a sense of pride,” he said.
His sons, WO2 Muhammad Khairi Bin Khairudin and SGT3 Khairul Azhar Bin Khairudin, were no strangers to the fire station. Growing up, they visited their father during the weekly Fire Station Open House and Family Days. As they watched their father carry out his duties with pride, their aspirations gradually took shape.
“During my dad’s posting at Woodlands Fire Station, we visited often and learnt more about his work. Seeing what he does made me realise his job was truly meaningful,” WO2 Khairi said.
Upon the completion of his studies, WO2 Khairi was considering his career options, when his father gently encouraged him to consider a career with the SCDF.
“He advised me to approach this career with an open mind,” WO2 Khairi recalled. “Over the years, I have come to enjoy my work, and this passion kept me going.”
Now a Section Commander at Ang Mo Kio Fire Station, WO2 Khairi often trains younger officers, a challenge that he has taken on, in his father’s footsteps.
“I’m not someone who usually speaks a lot, but I have learnt that leadership and training require two-way communication. Apart from sharing what we know, it also helps to hear what your team has to share,” he said.
Watching both his father and older brother serve in the SCDF, SGT3 Khairul was motivated to walk the same path as them. He is now a Section Commander in Yishun Fire Station.
“We look up to our dad as a role model. He has already written his own story over the past 40 years. Now, it is our turn, and we hope to continue his story and bring it to greater heights,” he shared.
Their bond, formed through years of shared experiences, now extends into their professional lives.
Due to the shared boundary between Ang Mo Kio Fire Station and Yishun Fire Station, the brothers occasionally find themselves responding to the same incidents. In those moments, they stand not just as brothers but as disciplined officers, guided by the values of teamwork, adaptability, and humility that their father had introduced to them early in life.
“You cannot possibly do everything yourself. Your team is your extra pair of eyes. That’s why it is important to communicate well, be flexible, and adapt to the situation,” SWO1 Khairudin shared.
His sons, in turn, reflect on how the job has shaped them.
“When I was younger, I could be stubborn at times. Over time, the discipline and responsibility required in this role gradually taught me the virtue of patience,” WO2 Khairi reflected.
SGT3 Khairul smiled as he recalled his own journey. “I used to be playful and mischievous when I was young. Since joining SCDF, I have matured and learnt to see the bigger picture.”
Learning from each other over the years, SGT3 Khairul admires the composure of his father and brother during challenging situations, while WO2 Khairi takes pride in his younger brother’s determination to further his studies while balancing operational duties and family commitments.
Despite their busy schedules, the family meets up once or twice a month, maintaining a close bond that has anchored them over the years.
For SWO1 Khairudin, seeing his sons grow as firefighters is deeply meaningful. “Now that they have their own responsibilities and have seen both the good and difficult sides of life, I feel very proud of who they have become,” he said with a smile.