Meet Denny Tan, Jackson Township fire safety inspector and investigator

Denny Tan finds it rewarding to promote public education and outreach and being able to engage with local businesses and township residents.

“I have been fortunate enough to be entrusted as a member of the Jackson Township Fire Department, functioning as a fire safety inspector and investigator within the Fire Prevention Bureau,” he said. “With this responsibility, I am part of a group that visits local businesses to assist with guiding and educating them to prevent injuries, loss of life, business loss or property damage to them, their clients and my fellow responding Jackson firefighters and EMS crews.

"In the unfortunate event of a fire loss or injury, we are tasked with the responsibility to determine and thoroughly document the origin and cause of the incident.”

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Tan is a graduate of GlenOak High School and Kent State University with a degree in chemistry. His background and experiences have assisted him to work as a control officer with the Stark County Hazardous Materials Response Team.

“I am a Jackson Township resident along with my girlfriend Brea and raising my son, Christian, who is a student at Jackson High School," he said. "Brea is a nurse and teacher at Hoover High School. We enjoy traveling, practicing yoga and letting our dog Kiyah take us for walks around the neighborhood. My father Danny is happily retired, and my sister Jenna is a teacher at Jackson Middle School."

Tan also completed the Stark State College training for fire/EMS and the Ohio Fire Academy for Fire Inspection & Investigation education. He has worked with Jackson Fire since 2019, Greentown Fire since 2011 and the hazmat team since 2011. Prior to that he spent 21 years in public health, water treatment, industrial research and environmental science.

“I like visiting with local business owners and representatives to get to know them," Tan said. "A fire inspector’s goal is to make these locations safe for themselves, their staff and their clients. Just as important is a fire inspector's responsibility is to make these businesses safe for emergency responders so that they can make it back out alive and unharmed to return home to their families."

A challenging part of this career is working through the emotions with a family who has lost not only their home but their personal belongings and things they cherish most.

Would you share what your average workday is like?

At the Jackson Township Fire Department, I primarily work Monday-Friday but remain flexible and available, based on planned events or emergencies.

My tasks are to inspect a division of the nearly 2,400 businesses in Jackson Township. I also perform other duties to fill the needs of the department and reduce community risk, such as car seat installations, installing residential smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and public education. I also contribute to the JTFD social media accounts, as well as assist with any department events that involve our mascot Sparky the Fire Dog such as:

• Fireworks safety for public events.

• Partner with building officials on new construction acceptance.

• Youth education at Safety Village and Open House.

• Install smoke and or carbon monoxide alarms in homes.

• Support Project Dawn by following up on EMS overdose calls.

• School and business fire drills.

• Check or install child passenger safety seats.

• Community outreach and education at events, businesses, neighborhoods, tours and schools.

Some of the emergency events include determining the origin and cause of a fire. I also provide community updates as a public information officer through social media or emergency press releases.

I’m an active member with the Stark County Hazardous Materials Response Team and I enforce the Ohio EPA restrictions with open burning and recreational fires.

As a fire inspector/investigator, how do you prepare yourself for the unknown when going out on a call?

Continuously train and educate with personnel, equipment and methods within our scope of practice. Though every incident is unique, it helps to be able to recall prior experiences to improve processes.

What led you to be a fire inspector/investigator?

I think this comes from being a parent and the oldest of 26 cousins.

I’ve always had a protective nature and strive to put myself in a position that enables me to help others help themselves.

With cases where they are unable to or don’t know how to help themselves, I enjoy the opportunity to educate and provide resources that they may have otherwise not known about or had been exposed to.

What are your top three favorite places in Stark County to spend an evening with friends and family?

We enjoy a nice evening on the front porch and visiting with neighbors or taking the dog for a walk in the neighborhood.

For a mental and physical boost, I like to take a hot yoga class at Yoga Strong. Most often, I cook and prepare meals at home but for dining out, it would likely be at Sparta Steak House and Lounge or the Royal Docks Brewing Co.

And I would have to say that my favorite takeout would be a thin crust pizza from Angello’s 2 Go.

One for fun: If you had to eat the same meal every day for the rest of your life, what would that meal be?

I’m still searching for that perfect Reuben sandwich with a side of fries.

Editor's note: Five questions with ... is a Sunday feature that showcases a member of the Stark County community. If you'd like to recommend someone to participate, send an email to newsroom@cantonrep.com.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Meet Denny Tan, Jackson Twp. fire safety inspector and investigator