Shelton volunteer named one of state’s top firefighters
SHELTON — A longtime city firefighter is being recognized as one of the top firefighters in the state.
David Collings, a 45-year member of the Pine Rock Park Fire House, has been named the city’s firefighter of the year and will be honored during the Exchange Clubs of Connecticut Firefighters of the Year celebration on Oct. 21 at the Aqua Turf in Southington.
“It is truly humbling,” Collings said about receiving the award. “It’s a tremendous honor.”
Collings and his wife, Dolores, first joined Pine Rock Park as volunteer firefighters in 1977.
Fire Chief Francis T. Jones III said when the couple joined Shelton Volunteer Fire Company No. 4, they provided “countless hours of dedicated service responding to emergencies, providing fire instruction throughout their careers, and providing fire prevention and education to our community.”
Dolores, who had been assistant chief of fire prevention in Shelton and a fire safety inspector, died in 2018.
Collings said the couple joined after attending an open house at the fire house in 1977 — and the decision was a perfect one for them.
“It was always a good group of people ... all of us helping to support the community, and we enjoyed it,” said Collings, who worked 22 years as a systems engineer at Pitney Bowes on Waterview Drive.
Collings said in his firefighting prime he made 30 to 50 percent of the company’s calls each year. While working at Pitney Bowes’ Waterview Drive location, he said his bosses allowed him to respond to calls during the workday.
Like so many longtime volunteer firefighters, Collings likes to reminisce about his time with the department — including one time he and a crew helped remove a burning carpet from the garage of a friend he carpooled to work with.
He also recalled the moment in the early 1990s when he was at a fire scene only to see the truck arrive with only female firefighters — his wife at the wheel.
“It was well worth it,” Collings said about his years as a volunteer. “It is a wonderful way to give back … you get incredible training, meet great people, and you learn a lot about your community and the people in it — and you learn about yourself, too.”
Collings has served the Shelton Fire Department and his fire company in many capacities, including service as a fire commissioner, a fire lieutenant, apparatus operator, fire instructor and firefighter. Within the department, he served as trustee, secretary and treasurer.
He has been a member of numerous statewide fire services organizations including the Connecticut State Firefighters Association, Connecticut State Firefighters Irregulars Association, Fairfield County Fire Chiefs and the Connecticut Parade Marshals.
“Dave has always been an outstanding and natural firefighter,” Jones added, “but most important of all, he has always been a great leader, mentor, and friend to the officers and membership of fire department.”