Colin James Townsley, was an English firefighter. In 1987 Townsley was station officer in charge of Red Watch at Soho Fire Station in central London. He was one of 31 people killed in the King's Cross fire, the only firefighter to die. Townsley died from smoke inhalation while assisting passengers to escape from the fire; he was posthumously awarded the Chief Officer's Commendation and the George Medal for his bravery.