WREN — Don Chastain’s passion for working with the Wren Fire Department has been passed on to the next generation, and his son Kevin is the chief at the fire station now.

“I got him started in it. I guess I kind of created a monster with it,” Don Chastain said. Kevin Chastain was interested in firefighting when he was a little boy, and he attended some of the courses and training sessions even before he was old enough to get credit for them.

Don Chastain is the fire station’s only original charter member, having been with the station since it started in 1974.

After serving in virtually every officer’s role, he has now stepped back to “turn it over to the younger firefighters,” says Chastain, who also worked with Michelin for 30 years out of the Sandy Springs plant.

He still goes to the fires, drives the trucks and works as the fire department’s safety officer.

While he was working at Michelin, it was hard to volunteer at the fire department while also having a full-time job and a family, but it was worth his time, he said.

“It’s tough balancing a family and volunteering, but I’ve always loved to volunteer and be with the fire department,” he said. “It’s kind of like it’s in your blood. You have to do it. You have to have a special calling for it.”

Now that he’s retired, Chastain has been able to devote more time to a few of his other favorite pastimes — spending time with his grandchildren and participating in cruise-ins and car shows with his 23 Ford T Bucket.

His five grandchildren’s ages range from 1- to 11-years-old.

Name: Don Marshall Chastain

Age: 61

Occupation and Employer: Retired from Michelin Tire, Sandy Springs Plant.

Years at the job: 30 years

Favorite foods: Steak and German Chocolate Cake.

Favorite pastimes: Spending time with grandchildren, taking part in cruise-ins and car shows, taking trips to Lake Greenwood.

Family: Married to Debbie Holliday Chastain for 40 years; two children: Kevin Chastain, chief of Wren Fire Dept.; Darla Chastain Bryant, ER nurse; five grandchildren: Brooks Beacham, Savannah Chastain, Cole, Kerigan and Carson Bryant.

Pets: None.

Awards and special achievements: Charter member of Wren Fire Department for 35 years, Safety Officer and numerous other awards throughout the years.

Residence: Lifelong residence of Piedmont and Wren community.

Interesting facts: Owns several collector cars, enjoys spending time with grandchildren and riding them in hot rods and on four-wheeler.

Church: Marathon Community Church.