Nathan Blackwood
Nathan Blackwood often has to bring work home with him.
There have been a few occasions when the Butler County 911 Center dispatcher has fielded a call about an emergency in Prospect, and then he has gone to the scene as chief with the Prospect Volunteer Fire Department when he finishes his shift at the office.
The department runs about 200 calls annually, so odds are that a good chunk of those calls are fielded by Blackwood at the dispatch center.
“Plenty of times we've taken calls for emergencies in Prospect where I'm on the 911 end of it,” he said. “Then when I'm home from work, I go to the scene.”
Nathan Blackwood’s work with the fire department and the 911 center are part of the reason his wife, Lena Blackwood, and longtime neighbor, Sharon Esplen, thought he was worthy of a Hometown Hero award. However, it was his dedication to continuing education and the local community that pushed the two to nominate him.
“Nathan in the last year has completed Hazmat Operations refresher, Grain Bin Rescue, New Vehicle Rescue and Fire Fighter 1,” his wife said. “His passion to help doesn’t stop there. Nathan is also an EMT. In the little spare time that he has each year, he will work a few hours between Portersville and Slippery Rock ambulance services.”
Nathan Blackwood has volunteered with Prospect VFD since 2008, when he started as a junior member at 14 years old, and he has worked at the Butler County 911 Center for about seven years.
While his work with the fire department keeps him busy, he said he still enjoys it.
“The fire end of it is exciting because you never know what the call is going to be,” he said. “Being there when people are having a terrible day and helping out, it makes you feel good at the end of the day.”
He said he has also become close to the people he works alongside.
“They become your friends ... they become your family,” he said.
Esplen is a neighbor of the Blackwoods and said she has known Nathan “pretty much since he was born.” Nathan and his wife now live across the street from the Esplens, and he is as helpful as ever.
“There have been instances where I have yelled, ‘Nathan, I need help,’ and he is right there,” Esplen said. “Just how compassionate and caring he was and how much he supports the community … He definitely loves it.”
Esplen said she also remembers when Blackwood joined the fire department as a teen. She said that aside from his helpfulness as a neighbor, his dedication to the fire department was cause for a Hometown Hero nomination.
“It just seems like he's always loved it,” Esplen said. “He does continuing education. I think that just impressed me more than anything, just watching how much he cares.”
According to Lena Blackwood, her husband never hesitates to respond to an emergency call, and he “goes above and beyond for the department.”
“He leaves his friends and family at a second’s notice to be there for someone else’s family on what could be the worst day of their lives,” she said. “In addition to all the calls and training, each year he writes and receives grants to help fund the cost of new gear and equipment.
“In 2022, a fire tax was introduced to Franklin Township and has been essential in the plans for a new building.”
Nathan Blackwood said he doesn’t expect to be recognized for his volunteer work, which he does as a passion, but he is glad to not only receive a Hometown Hero nomination, but to share his honor with other first responders in Butler County.
“It caught me off guard when I got the call from (Prospect Mayor) Jim Butler,” Blackwood said. “I wasn't expecting that to be the call, but I was grateful for them recognizing me.”
