Station Manager Gary Tough.
Gary Tough once dreamed of being a pilot or a professional footballer but found his true calling in the fire service.
The Peterlee dad joined County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) as a Firefighter in April 2009 at the age of 24.
It was the ideal job for Gary, who had set his sights on a career devoted to serving the public after a brief spell working in the financial and energy sector.
“Like many young boys I was a bit of a dreamer and my career aspirations ranged from flying planes to playing professional football,” Gary said.
“As I got a bit older and supposedly wiser, I found I was particularly interested in a career in the public sector or military.
“After some research, I really focused on a career in the Fire and Rescue Service.”
Over the years Gary rose through the ranks, becoming Crew Manager and then Watch Manager in the Service’s training department.
The 39-year-old is now Station Manager of Assurance, a role that sees him work within the Continuous Improvement Team to ensure that the Service learns and continually improves and that crews are equipped to deliver the Service’s key priorities.
“As a Station Manager, I also have operational responsibilities and I attend incidents when required to support Crew and Watch Managers,” Gary added.
“The best thing about my job is the variation it provides and the opportunity to work with other likeminded professionals who are committed to providing the best possible service to residents of Durham and Darlington.”
The proudest moment of his 15-year career?
“Receiving a personal letter of thanks from the Chief Fire Officer for my role in helping a member of the public during a medical response incident,” Gary said.
Outside of work, Gary enjoys playing golf and spending time with his wife, Rachael, and daughters, Katie and Olivia.
