Nice to Meet Ya: Todd Colvin

Todd Colvin is the Assistant Fire Chief for North Hays County Fire Rescue (NHCFR) and he’s had quite the journey since first volunteering in 1994. That’s when NHCFR was an all volunteer department. He worked up the ranks to becoming a career fire fighter and to ultimately his current position. Colvin loves his job. He moved to the area,

He moved to the area, Sunset Canyon to be exact in 1994, as his parents were here and that is how he got his start in Dripping. “I’m not a hometown boy, but I’m close,” Colvin said.

Being a part of this community means a lot to him. “I wish I could be on every call. I know so many people. They trust me. But I know I can’t be. It’s not possible,” he said Colvin is always willing to lend a helping hand when available.

Prior to becoming assistant chief, when younger, he wanted to pursue a degree in criminal justice. Once he moved here however, he started volunteering at the fire station, (located then at the Triangle) and life would take him in a different direction. “It was a lot of fun. Joe Felkel [a former volunteer department chief and now volunteer firefighter) taught me a lot of things.”

Colvin attended the Fire Academy at Austin Community College in Taylor in 1996.

“Growing up, in my childhood, there were two or three neighbors that were volunteers that would leave and run to the fire.” Now, he had only one dream to get a full time firefighters’ job somewhere.

While volunteer firefighting, he worked at Carved Stone. Since a lot of the other volunteer firefighters had jobs in Austin, the owners of Carved Stone would let him go fight the local fires.

Fast forward, three different volunteer fire departments merged into one--Driftwood, Henly, and Dripping. “I was the last fire chief of the volunteers,” he said.

Eventually, he was hired on full time in what would become the present day NHCFR. “My best day? When I became a full time firefighter with NHCFR.” He still remembers being a volunteer.

“Volunteers--we couldn’t do without them. I have never forgotten where I came from. I treat them like everybody else. I know what it is like to drop dinner, drop parties, drop everything and come running to the fire,” Colvin said.

One of those fires he responded to, was one that most long time residents remember. It happened in 2007.

“The biggest fire (that wasn’t a grass fire) was the Baptist Church on 290. It was a large occupancy, open assembly. The south wind blew the fire through the north end.” It shocked the city.

According to an article in the Baptist Standard, the fire “beginning in the 106-yearold sanctuary of First Baptist Church in Dripping Springs brought the structure to the ground.”

Fortunately, no injuries were reported and the cause was believed to be electrical. Aside from responding to

Aside from responding to fires and other incidents, Colvin has some additional responsibilities as the guy in charge of the operations side of NHCFR. This includes discipline, something he dislikes and doesn’t like to think about. Another responsibility that makes his eyes light up, even over this phone interview--building a fire truck from day one.

“Growing up I was into hot rods, old cars. Now, I’m on the operating side. I’m in charge of vehicles, which includes fire trucks. Fire trucks are awesome!” There’s a fire truck currently being built in Brenham for NHCFR. It’s a custom job which they can view every week or so.

“But the bigger ones are made in Wisconsin. You get to see before they are built and after. It’s a lot of fun… another fun part is talking to young people about joining as a career.”

The future of the fire department is that of the city, trying to keep up with growth. Colvin foresees a few more substations being built as the population continues to increase.

“I have the best, funnest job in the fire department… the best in the city and county,” he said. “I love the people here and they appreciate all we do. We’re a team.”