In the heart of Brownsburg lies a dedicated fire territory, a group of selfless individuals committed to protecting and serving the public every day. The journey of a fire captain often begins in unexpected ways, driven by deep personal experiences that develop a passion for serving your community. With a rich background in emergency medical services and a passion for continuous learning and growth, Brownsburg’s Fire Captain of Engine Co. 131, Justin Butts, embodies the true spirit of fire service in our community.

Justin’s journey into emergency medical services started early as he took an EMT class in high school in northern Indiana, driven to serve others after losing a close family member, a loss that profoundly influenced his path. After graduating, he spent the summer volunteering and took a semester off before enrolling in a paramedic program at Ivy Tech in Fort Wayne, IN. From there, he worked as a paramedic as he was drawn to the rescue side of things, and after several years, he became a flight medic on a helicopter for a hospital in Fort Wayne. “It was a mix of scene flights and interfacility transports, which to me was mentally intriguing, due to the amount of complex cases we would see,” Justin reflects.

However, over time, Justin found himself wanting to give more of himself. “You kind of hit these points where you want to do more than you currently are,” Justin says.

Eventually, a friend invited him to a live fire training, and that experience sparked a new passion in Justin as he was fascinated by the hands-on nature of the fire service. Through this experience, Justin was hired on in Brownsburg as a medic while he worked through the fire hiring process, spending two months as a civilian medic before starting the fire academy.

“The individuals working at Brownsburg Fire Territory were so welcoming – one of the guys even let me sleep on his living room floor because I lived in Huntington at the time, and he didn’t charge me a dime,” he says.

After finishing the academy, Justin went all in within this role.

“One thing that I really enjoy about the fire service is that there is always an opportunity to learn. Someone always knows something that you don’t, with a background or a history you can learn from. And from that, you can share knowledge with someone else,” states Justin.

With this mindset, Justin was attracted to the work ethic of these firefighters and wanted to work alongside them.

What he loved most was the balance – he could be a medic on the engine, train in search and fire tactics, and spend time behind the firehouse hooking up hydrants and practicing flowing water. “There was never a moment where I felt that my abilities and knowledge in fire training were capped out,” he says. “Brownsburg was always willing to provide opportunities for training classes.”

When a leadership opportunity emerged for Justin, he saw a chance to shape the departments culture. His lieutenant promotion proved that collaboration was key. “I want to be that guy for the next guy,” he stated. This mindset then carried into his Health and Safety Chief role and into his current role as Fire Captain, stationed at Station 131.

For Justin, every day starts off with the intention of building stamina for any possibility that may come his team’s way. He typically arrives at the station around 6 a.m. with a cup of coffee in his hand, as he basks in a time of reflection with no distractions and in complete silence. “I have a pretty significant coffee habit. For me, life doesn’t start until I’ve weighed and ground my beans to make my cup of coffee,” Justin jokes.

After settling in, Justin begins to prep his gear and will then receive a handoff report from the outgoing crew. As the Apparatus Captain, his tasks in the morning involve equipment maintenance tasks like repairing worn nozzle threads to keep everything in top shape.

Justin stresses a fundamental approach to his leadership role, comparing it to NBA players practicing free throws – to master the basics to ensure adequate response time in real emergencies. He lays out the expectation for training techniques for the team, which is a daily priority. These training exercises can range from hands-on drills, tabletop exercises, or department-lead instruction. Justin also heavily encourages his team to share the new skills with the team that they obtain by their individualized training.

Balancing a lifestyle of work and recovery is crucial to Justin and his team, even more so with Engine 131, the busiest engine company in Hendricks County, running over 2,300 calls a year. With this in mind, Justin emphasizes adaptable physical fitness geared toward injury prevention and endurance during high-stress situations that may come about. In order to provide some routine for his team, Justin implements mornings for structured training while leaving afternoons for more independent skill building.

“Whether we focus on refining rope systems, perfecting hose layouts, or running impromptu drills, the ultimate goal is to stay sharp and ready for any possibility,” describes Justin.

When asked what the most rewarding part of the job, Justin spoke of the interactions he has with the community that may go unnoticed, like a trip to the grocery store when a child is wide-eyed with awe at meeting a real-life firefighter. Justin’s goal is to be as aproachable and accessible as possible to create possibive monents for the community because for some, that might be their only personal encounter with someone within his profession.

“The mundane moments are almost as satisfying because those are really when you pay attention and see the impact you have on people. For me, it’s both a privilege and a responsibility because every positive interaction plants a seed for the firefighter that comes after me,” Justin shares.

Outside of his role as fire captain, Justin is an avid year-round diver, specializing in shipwreck diving in the Great Lakes. “Growing up, I always had a fascination with mysterious things. Jules Verne was my favorite author, and I think I’ve probably read the book “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” like six different times,” Justin mentions. Both firefighting and diving are about preparation, problem-solving, and staying calm under pressure.

“The neat part of these hobbies, whether it’s diving, caving, or backpacking, is that there are skill sets within each that translate to firefighting practices. I feel more competent as a diver because of the training that I do within my role,” shares Justin.

Fire Captain Justin Butts is a leader not just in the way he leads during fire emergencies, but in the example he sets every day. His leadership toward his team is a reminder to us all that firefighting is more than just a job, but rather a responsibility and a life-long pursuit of growth. Whether he is responding to calls, engaging with the community of Brownsburg, or exploring shipwrecks in the Great Lakes, Justin embodies a mindset of discipline and a pursuit of committing to something larger than himself.