Sudden Death Of Veteran Virginia Firefighter Hits Community Hard: 'It Doesn't Seem Real'

By Zak Failla From Daily Voice

A Virginia community is mourning the sudden loss of a man who spent more than 30 years running toward emergencies to save others instead of away from them

Linzie Scott “Scottie” Collins, a veteran firefighter and EMT from Cedar Bluff, died on Sunday, Nov. 16 following what his obituary described as a sudden illness. 

He was 50.

Collins was born in Richlands and never drifted far from the place that shaped him. 

He lived in Cedar Bluff, worked at Ceramic Tech, and spent decades volunteering with both the Richlands Fire and Rescue and the Cedar Bluff Fire Department. 

He was one of those people towns lean on without even realizing how much—until he’s gone.

His daughter, Hannah Heintz, spoke glowingly about her father in a GoFundMe set up to help the family offset the unexpected funeral costs.

“My daddy was a firefighter for the Richlands fire and rescue, Cedar Bluff fire department, as well as an EMT for the Richlands Rescue Squad. He was dedicated to his family, friends, and his job," she wrote.

Virginia Firefighter Linzie Scott Collins

GoFundMe

"He put his life on the line for 36 years to protect and serve everyone in the community.” She added, “My daddy went to be with the lord… He received his last call.”

The Town of Richlands Emergency Medical Service announced his death early, telling the community, “We are deeply saddened to report the unexpected loss of one of our own Firefighter/EMT Scottie Collins… Scottie you will be missed.”

Locals didn’t wait long to speak up. The tributes show just how far his reach went.

From Susan Smith, who said the news “doesn't seem real,” came stories of winters, kids, and a firefighter who once went down a McDonald’s slide in Tazewell.

“Ohh Scottie idk how to feel…," Thomas John wrote."I love you, Scottie. Kick some butt up there playing cornhole... gone but never forgotten.”

But one of the rawest messages came from Justin Daniels, who worked calls with him for years. 

He remembered late-night audio messages of the two singing “Up Down” by Florida Georgia Line, and the way Scott checked on him after the hard calls that stick with you long after the radio goes quiet. 

“He was truly one of my best friends,” Daniels wrote. “Buddy, I’ll miss our long weekend talks at the squad and our 2 a.m. Up Down audio messages sent.”

Collins leaves behind his wife of 23 years, Angelia, his daughters Hannah and Mckayla, his son Bryson, his mother Lula, his brother Rodney, and a circle of friends who clearly saw him as much more than “just” a firefighter. 

Virginia Firefighter Linzie Scott Collins

GoFundMe

Many of them grew up with him. Some served with him. Others simply knew him as the guy who showed up when someone needed help.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, Nov. 20 at Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands, with burial following at the Collins Family Cemetery in Cedar Bluff. 

A GoFundMe set up for the family can be found here.

For a man who spent more than three decades answering alarms, it’s the silence left behind that the community is struggling with most.