'I feel blessed I have this job,' Fountain fire chief says

Fountain Fire Chief Darin Anstine knew he wanted to be a firefighter when he was about 3 years old.

“We had a furnace fire in our home when I was young, and I was always intrigued by the fire trucks because we lived a couple blocks from a fire station,” he said.

Anstine is from Hutchinson, Kan.

He came to Colorado in 1973 and volunteered as a firefighter in 1986 at the Fountain Fire Department.

He joined paid staff 1992.

The department had two paid staff at that time; now it has 30.

“I feel blessed I have this job,” he said. “I thank God I get to get up every day and come to work.”

He has an associate degree in fire science technology and emergency medical services, multiple certifications, and says he is always learning.

Anstine still runs calls at 3 a.m. when needed.

While serving the duties of chief, he still considers himself a working firefighter.

“He’s very proactive in the community,” said firefighter Ryan Torres. “He’s there to act on-scene to oversee incident command, resource logistics, including managing mutual aid with other departments.”

“He is a hands-on manager who stays involved with the department and local community,” firefighter Willis Dean said, “The department takes on his ethics, personality and vision, which are reflected in the department motto of ‘transparency, accountability and integrity.’”

Administrative assistant Jill Grubbs has been working with Anstine for 2 ½ years.

“He’s a people person rather than a micro-manager,” she said. “He’s concerned about making sure we provide the best medical and emergency service to the community.

“That includes extensive training, constant updating and continuing education for medical services.”

Anstine considers working with state legislators like Rep. Marsha Looper to pass the Marc Mullenix Volunteer Firefighter Protection Act — which gives some immunity to volunteer firefighters acting in good faith when reacting to an emergency — one of his greatest achievements.

He says firefighters from all over the state have contacted him to thank him for making the legislation possible.