Dallas Fire-Rescue. Photography by Jessica Turner.
Today, City of Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert appointed Interim Chief Justin Ball to serve as the next Chief of Dallas Fire-Rescue (DFR), effective on April 23, 2025.
Thirty-two candidates applied to the position. The list was narrowed to four semifinalists, including current and former Fire Chiefs and executives, all of whom participated in a series of meet and greets and feedback panels.
“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,” said Dallas City Manager, Kimberly Bizor Tolbert. “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.”
As Dallas’ 18th Fire Chief, Ball will oversee a $430 million budget and lead roughly 2200 men and women who serve the public responding to fire and emergency medical services. He joined DFR in 1997 and has advanced through every rank—from firefighter paramedic to Field Deputy Chief, Executive Deputy Chief, Assistant Chief, and ultimately Executive Assistant Chief of Operations.
“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,” said Chief Justin Ball. “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.”
Chief Ball has a bachelor’s degree in Fire Administration from Texas A&M and maintains certifications as a Master Firefighter, Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF), Fire Officer II, Fire Instructor II, Incident Commander, and Incident Safety Officer.
“The Dallas Fire-Rescue Department is one of our most impactful and beloved departments in the city. When residents call 911 for a fire or collision emergency, they expect and deserve fast, reliable response times,” said District 1 Council Member Chad West. “With Chief Justin Ball at the helm, I am confident that we’ll continue these trends in Dallas. My hope is that Chief Ball will also embrace discussions and infrastructure planning that furthers our city’s Vision Zero and North Oak Cliff goals by redesigning our roadways to slow down cars and enhance pedestrian and cyclist safety.”
