Ballou enjoying role as fire chief

Fort Scott Fire Department Chief Paul Ballou fills out an incident report regarding a structure fire. Ballou has been the fire chief for eight months. Before being named chief, he served on the fire department as a firefighter for 18 1/2 years. (Rayma Silvers/Tribune)

After eight months serving the local community as the Fort Scott Fire Department fire chief, Paul Ballou is adjusting to a new routine and enjoying his new role.

"It's a position (chief) that I never really thought I'd have the opportunity to try," Ballou said. "A lot of people in the firefighting business will move around to different cities or states. I was born and raised in Fort Scott, and I never had the desire to move the family around."

According to Ballou, as chief, he still responds to a lot of fire calls, but he is only there as a safety person, and he misses being able to actually fight the fires the crew is dispatched to.

"I miss running the calls," he said. "I go to some, if I can, to help out, but I'm usually the safety person and I keep an eye on the crew. If something comes up, I let them know."

For nearly 20 years Ballou has diligently worked to help area residents during emergency situations -- a job that he says he has found extremely fulfilling.

"I've always been one of those type of people that when someone has something like a fire if you can go out there and save a life or at the very least some property, it's a job that's fulfilling."

Ballou added one of the most rewarding parts of the job is when someone who was injured in a fire, vehicle accident or other emergency situation that he has responded to comes to the fire station to thank him. It gives him a lot of joy to see that those individuals have recovered and are doing well.

"That's the fulfilling part of the job," he said.

Ballou's dedication to his job through the years has been enhanced by the devotion and support he received from his wife, Cheryl.

"Over the years there has been a lot of meals left on the table right after she got them cooked, and a lot of times I left restaurants right after the meal was ordered," Ballou said. "You miss a lot of stuff with your family."

Although life was not always easy, Ballou said Cheryl has always stood behind him offering him much needed support.

"When she knows I want to do something, and I'm committed to it, she knows I'm going to give 100 percent," he said. "When I'm that way, she's that way too, giving 100 percent support. I try to back her the same way. She is pretty special."

Ballou said the last eight months, although enjoyable, have been a challenge at times because of the change in his work schedule. Ballou said, for 18 1/2 years being employed as a firefighter, he worked 24-hour shifts followed by 48 hours off. With his new position, Ballou works five days a week.

"It's really difficult to change your lifestyle and work habits," he said. "I hadn't worked five days a week since my wife and I got together (nearly 31 years ago). It's been tough, but it's been good to be home every night. After eight months, I am starting to get used to it."