CHIEF GEER … Chief Geer and her husband stand wearing their Class A uniforms for the Metamora Fire Department.
By: Jacob Kessler
The Metamora Fire Department has a new Fire Chief. Jessica Geer. Chief Geer, who was already the department’s EMS Chief, started her new position on September 1st. She is taking over the position from now retired Fire Chief Ray Kelble.
Chief Geer has lived in the Metamora area for 38 years since she was three years old. She Graduated from Evergreen Schools and works as a physical therapist assistant and the therapy area manager for three nursing homes in Toledo.
Chief Geer has been working at the Metamora Fire Department since 2004 when she started on the department with EMS. She worked her way up through the years to become the EMS Chief in 2018 before being state certified for firefighting in 2019.
Even before 2004 she has had a history with the Fire Service through her father-in-law and her husband Brent who has been on the department since 1995.
Chief Geer is looking forward to what the future holds and would like to serve the department in the best way that she can. “It is going to be challenging, but I know I want to do the best to keep traditions alive here. I am looking forward to serving the community in a different way,” said Chief Geer.
Chief Geer will be replacing now retired chief Ray Kelble who was the Chief for the department for 9 years and was in the department for a total of 37 years.
Chief Kelble retired as chief on August 31st and from the department on September 11th for medical reasons. September 11th was the anniversary date for Chief Kelble when he joined the department 37 years ago.
“I learned a lot from him, and I am grateful for everything that he taught me. He mattered here just as everyone else does, and he never wanted recognition for everything he did. His knowledge here will be missed,” said Chief Geer.
“Retiring is bittersweet. To put your heart and soul into it, it is going to be hard to adjust and I am going to miss it. It was the best experience of my life, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I wanted to keep going but if God has a plan for me then I will go along with that,” said Chief Kelble.
Jacob can be reached at jacob@thevillagereporter.com