Meet Jim Kutz: Woodlawn Deputy Fire Chief

Name: Jim Kutz

Age: 33

Lives: South Whitehall

Family: Wife, Lori; married five years. Three stepchildren, a daughter; and two sons who are Woodlawn firefighters.      

Job: Firefighter for the City of Allentown for 11 years, where he is a lieutenant on Engine 6 at the Hibernia Fire Station, Ridge Avenue and Tilghman Street.

Fire Department: Volunteer with , for a total of 17 years, serving as deputy chief for the past eight years.

Training so far: Because he volunteered with Woodlawn starting at age 16, Kutz already was a certified firefighter by the time he was hired by the City of Allentown, but he also went through the city’s extensive eight-week intensive training program. After completing six weeks of training in Huntsville, Ala., he became a member of the city’s bomb squad, and is a certified hazardous device technician. He also is a state fire instructor, using that skill to help train newcomers to the Woodlawn volunteer company.

“This is wanted I wanted to do as a career, and that’s why I instruct at Woodlawn,” he says. “To help the young guys.”

What it’s like to be a firefighter? “It’s the realization of a career dream…the best job in the world. It’s not the same old thing, like sitting at a desk in front of a computer all day. Every day is different, and it’s also exciting and gets the adrenaline going. It also gives me a great feeling when I help people. Plus, I live nearby, so there’s that feeling of protecting my home.”

How does your wife feel about you putting yourself in danger? “She doesn’t show it, but you can tell that she worries. We kiss every time I get called out to a call with the fire company, and she always tells me to be careful and safe, but she wouldn’t ask me not to do it because she knows it’s what I want to do.”

Tell us a story about a firefighting experience you’ll never forget: “Wow, there are so many, but the one that comes to mind right away is . It was the first one in a long time where rescues had to be done. It was a quick moving fire on the first floor, which moved upstairs fast. I didn’t expect it to be so bad, until we got the doors open. The cops said there were people trapped, and that made it more intense. We had to get them out through the windows. It wasn’t an easy rescue, but it was really good the way all three township stations (Woodlawn, and ) worked super well together. We all added ideas about how to get the job done."

What would you tell someone interested in joining your fire company? “I’d tell them to 'come on down,' but I’d also tell them it’s definitely intense and not as easy as it used to be. There’s a lot of training and hard work…It’s not all bells and whistles, but it’s a great opportunity to do good things. It’s not easy, but it’s definitely rewarding.”