My name is Jake Geiger, and I am very thankful to have grown up in this amazing community. I was a St. Edward Jaguar and an IVC Grey Ghost. I have been heavily involved in Scouting since I was young, and I eventually achieved the rank of Eagle Scout with Troop 91, where I am now also a troop leader. I have a Bachelor’s in Geology from Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL. During my time there, I met my beautiful wife, Emily, and we’ve been partners ever since. After completing my degree, I returned home, started my own family, and dedicated the past two decades to our family business. As of March 2024, I’ve been volunteering alongside the dedicated team at Chillicothe’s fire department, always striving to lend a helping hand in any way I can.

Throughout my journey, I have gained valuable life lessons from various experiences. Playing on sports teams taught me the significance of teamwork, while my time in Scouting underscored the importance of serving others. In college, I served as the vice president of a social fraternity, which taught me much about working towards common goals with diverse groups of people. My scientific education equipped me with crucial technical skills, and working in the hardware business sharpened my problem-solving abilities. These experiences have proven instrumental in my ongoing work with the fire department.

Joining CCFPD may have seemed like a natural progression for me, but the reality is that it was a recent decision made on a whim. It wasn’t a family tradition, and I only contemplated it after a casual conversation with another Chillicothe firefighter at a Cub Scouts meeting. However, it was one of my best decisions; the warm welcome from my now brothers and sisters in the firefighting community made me realize this was where I belonged. I look forward to gaining more experience in the coming years and am eager to see what the future has in store for me. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to learn from and work with the incredible individuals in the fire department. Their dedication, bravery, and teamwork are genuinely inspiring, and I am eager to absorb as much knowledge as possible and contribute to the vital work they do. It’s an honor to be part of such an exceptional team.

I firmly believe in the power of pursuing one’s passion, and for me, that means aiding others and remaining hands-on. Whether it’s resolving household issues, assisting my children with their studies, teaching young Scouts about camping, or responding to emergency calls in the middle of the night, I find fulfillment in being of service to others.

My wife hit the nail on the head when she said that the fire department was for me now what my fraternity was in college. It’s a place to belong and put my skills to use. In this case, I put it to use for the betterment and protection of my hometown and everyone who also calls it home. I would challenge anyone considering joining to do so. It’s a great experience, and it’s full of great people.