After 30 years on the Lima Fire Department and as Lima police officer a couple of years before that, Chris Jackson is retiring from safety services. Jackson says the job has been a journey and the fire department has been an extended family for him and his family. Jackson was named Firefighter of the year back in 1998, while he is looking forward to retirement; he says the day is bittersweet.
“I think the thing I will miss the most is working with the young kids and going to schools, fire prevention week, and Safety City are dear to me,” says Jackson. “Talking to the younger guys that job shadowed me 20 years ago, like Firefighter Matt Hammons who had a great year, with all of the accolades that he got, it just makes you feel proud that you have been an influence on people and they were able to come back and fulfill their dreams also.”
Jackson says he is going to take some time to think about what is next in his life, but he says there are a lot of things he would like to see done to help improve the Lima community
