My name is Forrest Blount, and I have lived in the beautiful community of Chillicothe my whole life. I have seen our community grow over the years and believe it's the best place to raise a family. As I talk about this community when working abroad, people are amazed at how close the community of Chillicothe is. 

My earliest memories of this community come from my childhood. All the kids on my block were always outside playing, and I would be the kid climbing trees and getting dirty. Everyone on the street knew each other; now, as an adult, I have a wonderful wife and three amazing kids. It was vital for me to have them grow up in the same community I experienced as a kid and attend our exceptional schools here.

I joined the fire department due to the love I have gained over the years of living in this community. It's a way to give back to this community I admire. I found it essential to do something for the community, as it has helped shape me into who I am today. There are multiple ways to volunteer in the community, and I encourage each person reading this to do so. However, I specifically joined the fire department due to my nature of helping others.

On the fire department, I can assist others on their worst day and hopefully make a difference in their lives. In retrospect, I always like to think about what would happen if I had a family member having a health situation or a potential hazard at their home and no one was there to assist. In that situation, I would feel that my family was let down and not cared for. I want to ensure everyone in this community is protected and has a safe location to raise a family.

You may have heard that volunteer fire departments are struggling in the country due to recruitment, which is unfortunate. With volunteer fire departments covering 70% of the country, it is becoming harder and harder for those departments to effectively protect their communities from these "worst day" scenarios. Thankfully, Chillicothe has weathered this storm for the most part; however, it has still had an impact over the years. If you are looking for a way to give back to our community, volunteering at the Chillicothe Community Fire Protection District is a great way to do this. The atmosphere in the department is like a family of brothers and sisters. We are there for each other on the best days as well as the worst days.

I am honored to serve the community I love, which has an impact for the better. Over the years of being on the department, I have grown more in love for the community as I continue to meet more people calling Chillicothe their home. I have grown more respect and love for those who serve this community beside me, and it all comes down to making a difference for this small town called Chillicothe.