Dallas Fire-Rescue's next chief has started work. Justin Ball has already been serving as interim chief since last year, but last week, the city manager announced he would continue serving in the role.
Ball replaced Dominque Artis. Artis was named the chief of public safety for Dallas, overseeing police, fire, emergency services and municipal court.
"I've been interim for 11 and a half months, so that prepared me," Ball said in an interview with KRLD Monday.
Ball has also been working with Dallas Fire-Rescue 28 years. He started as a firefighter and paramedic, became field deputy chief, executive deputy chief, assistant chief, and then executive assistant chief of operations.
"I know the needs of the city, I know the call volume, I know what resources are neded, and I know to keep on top of the changing environment," he said.
Ball will oversee 2,200 employee and a $430 million budget. He said he hoped to build on "positive momentum" to serve the community and protect members.
"We monitor areas as far as response time. We wouldn't have one area be inefficient. We constantly track and reallocate resources accordingly," he said. "As times change, we do need to look at our response to calls to make sure they're appropriate in order to be the most efficient department we possibly can."
Ball moved to the Dallas area from England 30 years ago. The city says he has a bachelor's degree in fire administration from Texas A&M and maintains certification as a master firefighter, aircraft rescue and fire fighting, fire officer II, fire instructor II, incident commander and incident safety officer.
“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. 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," Dallas City Mananger Kimberly Tolbert wrote in a statement announcing his selection last week.