Lifelong Garden City Volunteer Continuing Family Tradition

Nicole Simmons was born to be a volunteer firefighter. She spent a large part of her childhood in and around the Garden City Fire Company (GCFC), the same fire company where her grandmother once ran the Womens’ Auxiliary and where her grandfather, father and uncle also volunteered.

“It’s in my blood and it's just tradition for me at this point,” said Simmons. “It comes naturally to me because I have been up there my whole life.”

Simmons has been volunteering at GCFC for 12 years, and is now continuing the familial tradition with her fire captain husband, Jon, who she met through friends while Jon was volunteering at another fire company. Simmons and her husband have added a new member to the GCFC family, their two-year-old son, Jon Jr. (J.J.).

“My son is obsessed with the firehouse and wants to become a firefighter just like his mom and dad,” said Simmons. “The firehouse was the first place he ever went after he was born and all of the guys are like uncles that love to spoil him. I love that he is growing up at the firehouse and around the same people that I did.”

Simmons wears multiple hats as a volunteer at GCFC. She is the secretary at the fire company and takes charge in the administrative tasks not limited to planning, managing and staffing at the community events, fundraising, financial management support and general administrative functions. She is also an active, certified firefighter.

Simmons still responds to some fire calls, but not as frequently since she had her son, especially considering that her husband has to respond to nearly every emergency call, due to his role as a fire captain.

“My role has evolved a lot since becoming a mother and I have taken a bit of a back seat,” said Simmons. “My husband and I both can’t leave our son, and I have become more careful and I think twice before deciding whether or not to respond to an emergency call knowing that I have a little one counting on me that I need to care for.”

The last time Simmons was actually involved in a serious, emergency fire call was the day that she found out she was pregnant with her son.

“I was not feeling well at all that day, and when I went home, I decided to take a pregnancy test, and it turned out that I was full-on pregnant,” said Simmons.

Simmons doesn’t just juggle being a mother and the secretary at the firehouse, she also has to factor in running her own business. Her and her husband created the business “Simmons Removal,” a trash and junk removal company that caters to the Delaware County region. They offer services like shed removal, estate cleanouts, yard debris, light excavation, snow and ice removal and more.

“I do it all and my husband just does all the heavy lifting and manly work,” said Simmons.

When the Simmons family isn’t at the firehouse, they make sure to prioritize spending as much time with one another as they can. Their busy schedules make it difficult to relax, but they make sure to fit in the occasional trip down to their house on the shore during the warmer weekends.

Being a mother has changed Simmons’ perspective on many things, but she will always be dedicated to serving her community in the ways that she can.

“I grew up at the firehouse and have been a firefighter for so long that I could never imagine my life without it,” said Simmons. “I really don’t know how I juggle it all— being a mother, working, and volunteering at the firehouse— but I am very dedicated to helping my community.”

Are you interested in volunteering and helping serve your community? No experience is necessary to join and equipment will be provided free of cost. You can join as a volunteer firefighter, or on the administrative side where you can assist at community events and help with fundraising efforts. To learn more about volunteer opportunities with GCFC, visit:

GardenCityFireFighter.org