Thank You Firefighters and Police
When the phone rings in the middle of the night, your mind automatically goes to tragedy, so when my phone rang just after midnight on May 20, I was immediately filled with dread. The alarm company was calling to tell me the fire alarm had sounded at Pearce Community Center where I serve as director.

There was smoke in the Community Room. Along with police officers, more than 25 volunteer firefighters and six trucks were on the scene within five minutes. They conducted an extensive search of the entire building including the roof and the ceilings, and used their thermal imaging camera to find the source of the smoke.

These guys were amazing. First, they were jolted out of their beds in the middle of the night, got dressed, and were on the scene within five minutes. When most people would go the opposite direction of danger, they went looking for it, crawling and poking around to make sure Pearce was safe. And they didn't receive one penny of pay for doing any of this. They are all volunteers.

Every couple of years, every fire department throughout the country is reviewed and rated by the Insurance Service Organization. Homeowner insurance premiums are influenced by this rating: the better the rating, the bigger the discount you receive. Review after review, those of us who are lucky enough to be served by the Chillicothe Volunteer Fire Department have enjoyed a savings on our premiums. Thank you, firefighters, for earning a rating that provides me with a discount.

All is well and safe at Pearce. Thank you to the volunteer firefighters and police officers who show up every time to keep us safe. Your commitment to the community is extraordinary.

Ben Alvarez, Director