Episode 76, Joy in Firefighting with Chief Collin DeWitt

While discussing his 40 years in the fire service, Ret. Fire Chief Collin DeWitt, remarks, “men are that they may have joy.” After a lifetime of community service, dealing with trauma, drama, toil and trial, one might find it difficult to find joy. However, when you listen carefully to DeWitt you begin to realize that it’s all about perspective. In episode 76, Dewitt shares some of the challenges and changes he faced as he was coming up in the fire service and how he and his contemporaries overcame the difficulties, ultimately, finding satisfaction and joy. Please enjoy!

 

A little more about our guest…

 

1975 - Certified as one of the initial paramedics for the City of Phoenix

1983 - Paramedic of the Year Phoenix Fire Department

1985-2005 - Associate faculty at Phoenix college and ASU

1985 to 1999 - Served on the board of directors for the Arizona Emergency Medical Systems

1985 - Served on the Federal Integrated Committee of Emergency Medical Services in Washington DC to develop national ambulance standards

1985 to 1999 - Served on the National Fire Protection Association NFPA1001 committee for national fire fighter performance standards

1985 - Organized and implemented the first public emergency transportation system for the City of Phoenix Fire Department

1986 - Assisted the Arizona Sonora Border Foundation in training doctors in pre-hospital care

1989 - Certified as a hazardous materials technician

1992 - Assisted the Hope Foundation in Costa Rica to establish an emergency medical system

1992 - Assisted the Town Council in creating the Gilbert Fire Department

1993 - Became a Certified Public Manager

1999 - Assisted NATO in an International disaster drill in Kazakstan

1999 to 2013 - Oversaw the growth of the Gilbert Fire Department from 2 stations to 8 stations

2010 - As Town manager, coordinated the development and implementation of the Town's first strategic plan and managed a town wide reorganization.

2011 - Acquired and organized construction of the Town of Gilbert's 9/11 memorial

2011 - Received Mayoral Award for Excellent from the Town of Gilbert

2013 to 2015 - Served as Navajo County fire administrator to assist and reorganize fire districts within the county

2021 - Arizona State Fire Service Hall of Fame

 

__________________________

 

You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email!

If you would like to contact today’s guest...

IG: Collin_DeWitt

FB: Collin Dewitt

Email: collindewitt270@gmail.com

Your host can be reached at:

IG: @firegroundfitness

FB: @fireground fitness

Twitter: @firegroundfit

Email: raynegray@firegroundfitness.com