Columbus firefighter celebrates Father's Day as his children work by his side

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- For the first time in his nearly 39 years as a firefighter, a central Ohio man is marking Father’s Day with two of his children working alongside him. 

Sam Towns, 64, joined the Columbus Division of Fire in 1986. Two of his eight children, Captain Sexton Towns, 36, and Jazzmine Towns, 34, are also firefighters. 

“It’s not an easy job, by no means,” Sam Towns said. “When you have children that follow in your footsteps, knowing it's not going to be an easy job, just shows the type of fortitude that they have. It just makes me proud to know I have kids with that type of fortitude.” 

In 2021, Sam Towns became Badge #1. It is an honor bestowed upon the most senior firefighter in the division. 

Jazzmine Towns, who graduated from the fire academy in January 2024, said she is grateful for her father’s career experience. For years, he has shared lessons with her brother. The older brother does not keep the sage advice close to his chest. 

“There's wisdom that I cannot gain, there's not a textbook, there's not a video I can watch that is going to give more wisdom that I can gain from the two of them,” Jazzmine Towns said. “That is priceless.” 

Sexton Towns received his promotion in 2021. He’s been with the division for 16 years. 

“A lot of people in this fire department are just like him,” Sexton Towns said. “They come to work, they do the job, and go over and beyond a lot of times.” 

Sam Towns described fatherhood as an every day, every hour job. He said that although his two firefighter children are well-trained, he still worries about them every day they are at work.