Josh Forrest wasn’t the type who had always dreamed of becoming a firefighter from the time he was a little kid. He went to Jacksonville State and majored in animal biology, but after college he felt called to become a firefighter.

Forrest started his job with the Anniston Fire Department in May of 2007.

“Being a Christian, I’m all about serving people,” he said.

Forrest attends Leatherwood Baptist Church and credits any praise as a firefighter to his faith.

He has several family members who are also firefighters, including his uncle, Larry Tillison, who also works for the Anniston Fire Department.

His experience as a firefighter is definitely helpful, even though the job is always unpredictable.

“You’ve got your set things that you do every day,” Forrest said. “But every day is different.

“I wouldn’t say I feel comfortable because that leads to complacency.”

However, experience has helped him become more aware, given him a stronger idea of what to possibly expect, and helped raise his sense of responsibility.

When the department receives a call, he tries to run through the many different scenarios in his head before they actually go out so he’s better-prepared.

“You never know exactly what’s going to happen until you get there,” he said.

Best firefighter

Josh Forrest, Anniston Fire Department