Dallas Fire-Rescue. Photography by Jessica Turner.
Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert selected Interim Chief Justin Ball as the new chief of Dallas Fire-Rescue.
Former Dallas Fire-Rescue Chief Dominique Artis left his position after being promoted to chief of public safety earlier this year. Ball has been the interim chief since June. The city embarked on a local and regional search for the new Fire-Rescue chief and found 32 candidates, according to a City of Dallas press release. Four semifinalists were selected and included Ball as well as candidates from Fort Worth, Houston and Florida.
“Chief Ball has a demonstrated track record of strong leadership. He has brought fresh ideas to solve problems and seized on innovative opportunities to take this internationally recognized department to the next level,” Tolbert said in a press release. “I appreciate his contribution to keeping Dallas at the top of the leaderboard as one of the safest large cities in the country, and his dedication to the DFR team.”
Ball’s promotion as Dallas’ 18th fire chief is effective April 23.
Ball, a native of northeast England, started at Dallas Fire-Rescue in 1997 and has served as a firefighter paramedic, field deputy chief, executive deputy chief, assistant chief and executive assistant chief of operations. As chief, he will oversee a $430 million budget and lead about 2,200 men and women who respond to fire and emergency medical services, according to the press release.
“It’s an incredible honor to have been selected as the permanent Chief to lead the brave men and women with whom I have the pleasure of working with each day,” Ball said in a press release. “I look forward to building on our positive momentum, focusing on the safety and wellness of our members, and continuing to deliver the best service to this community.”
Ball has a bachelor’s degree in fire administration from Texas A&M as well as certifications as a master firefighter, aircraft rescue and fire fighting, Fire Officer II, Fire Instructor II, incident commander, and incident safety officer.
