Retiring Deputy Fire Chief Steve DeJong reflected recently on his career with Homewood Fire Department, which he served for more than 25 years. 

DeJong joined the Homewood Fire Department on Nov. 27, 2000, as a firefighter and paramedic. He took part in the department’s dive and rescue and hazardous materials teams. He also was promoted twice in 2013, first to lieutenant and then to deputy chief, Homewood Communications and Engagement Manager Antonia Steinmiller said. 

DeJong also served as instructor for Prairie State College and University of Illinois to train people to become emergency responders. He served as an incident commander for large-scale emergencies, such as Hurricane Ian, Steinmiller said. 

DeJong attributes his time in the military, which he joined at the age of 17, to his inspiration to pursue a career in fire safety. He was in the military for 23 years, he said. 

“Public safety, fire, is kind of a paramilitary organization, and you form that bond with your coworkers and that trust that I kind of grew up with from the time I was 17,” DeJong said. 

The Homewood Fire Department has evolved significantly since he first started, especially since the tragic death of fallen firefighter Brian Carey in 2010, he said. 

“We realized at that point in time we had to make a lot of changes,” DeJong said. 

Those changes included leadership development, and training focus and engagement. DeJong is most proud of the transformation of the department from when he first started compared to now, he said.  

“We’ve seen the department come full circle as far as being one of the best in the South Suburbs,” DeJong said, adding, “we have a great group of individuals here that has truly focused on providing the best service to the citizens that we serve with the highest level of competency and leadership.”  

DeJong reflects on the amazing people that he has worked with in the department and the Village of Homewood. 

“You have good days, you have bad days, but all in all when you come together for the cause that we’re here, I have worked with some of the best people in my life,” DeJong said. 

DeJong will be transferring his expertise to his new role as administrative section chief for Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS). 

“MABAS is a grant-funded organization that manages all the mutual aid both interstate and intrastate, so as the admin chief I’ll manage all the grants, sit on some state committees,” DeJong said. 

The goal is to manage budgets and ensure that oversight operations support the mission of the state and all the local fire departments, he said. 

DeJong is looking forward to the new opportunities of working with different levels of government at the state level in this next chapter, he said. 

“It’s kind of a different level of responsibility without some of the stresses of making sure that our people are safe and everything is working, and all the intricacies that go into being an administration of a department,” DeJong said.