Careers & Education

Football Player Becomes Firefighter after Cousin Dies in Plainfield, CT, Fire

Nov. 28, 2024

Tyson Collins lost his cousin in a Plainfield house fire and that led him to join the fire company to help others.

Tyson Collins, a senior at Harvard H. Ellis Technical School, has a lot to balance in his daily schedule.

The student is a lineman on the school's football team and a firefighter with the Central Village Fire Company in Plainfield.

His interest in becomng a firefighter was launched after his aunt and two cousins became trapped in a Plainfield house fire, according to WTNH.com.

His aunt and one cousin were able to get out.

“My cousin passed away and it kind of broke my heart and it drove me to be a firefighter and help save other people and prevent that kind of stuff happening,” Collins told the television station.

His football team is closing in on the playoffs and he's busy studying to become a mason.

“It shows a lot to his maturity to handle so much on his plate and seeing the whole picture, life is very demanding and I think he’s ready for those demands,” Coach Joe Asermelly said.

About the Author

Peter Matthews | Editor-in-Chief/Conference Director

Peter Matthews is the conference director and editor-in-chief of Firehouse. He has worked at Firehouse since 1999, serving in various roles on both Firehouse Magazine and Firehouse.com staffs. He completed an internship with the Rochester, NY, Fire Department and served with fire departments in Rush, NY, and Laurel, MD, and was a lieutenant with the Glenwood Fire Company in Glenwood, NY. Matthews served as photographer for the St. Paul, MN, Fire Department.