Name: JC Collins

Age: 46

Job Title/Department: Fire Chief, Newton Fire Department

Years as a firefighter? 25

Why did you choose to become a firefighter?

As a kid, my dad was a volunteer at this department. Back then they didn’t have pagers and, when they had a call, you’d get a funny ring on the landline – didn’t matter if you were already on the phone or not. He’d grab the phone, listen to it and leave and I’d think, ‘Where’s he going now?’

Sometimes I’d get in the truck with my mom and we’d go watch him. I thought, when I get older, I’m going to do that. When I first started out, he would tell the older guys, ‘you watch him,’ just being protective. 

We even rode together to calls before he retired a few years ago.

Do you have any family members in the field?

My father, Donald Collins; my oldest brother, Donny Collins, is a constable and a fire instructor at the State Fire Academy; my younger brother, Colt Collins, and his wife, Lisa, were firefighters but now they’re paramedics.

What has been your most gratifying experience as a firefighter?

Going into a house fire, it could be fully involved or halfway destroyed. But when you actually get to bring pictures or photo albums to the family… or when you go out and there’s a little kid who says, ‘There’s the fireman!’

Kids are going to show you respect. There are a few people who say they appreciate us but it’s not like the kids do it. They’re not afraid to show you. There’s just a lot of moments like that.

Would you encourage one of your children to pursue a career as a firefighter?

I guess I would encourage them if they want to do it but not try to make them. I’ll support them.

What would you have done if you had not become a firefighter?

Probably would have gone into law enforcement. I was an officer (for the Newton Police Department) for a little while and converted over. I also worked as a dispatcher. 

When not working, what are your interests?

Probably the gym. I cut grass with one of our part-time guys on the side. Fishing, hunting, anything like that. I got into arrowhead hunting a few years ago.

Tell us something about you people would be surprised to learn?

I’ve been living with Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Fever for about five years. But I teach martial arts, MMA fighter. I have a high kick record of nine feet and I’m a second-degree black belt. 

I got into a school (for martial arts) a years ago as a kid. My uncle took some classes and I picked up stuff from him. To be honest, Bruce Lee was the man to me as a kid. My favorite Bruce Lee movie would have to be Enter the Dragon.