LOYAL. LOCAL. COMPLETE.
“It’s time for me to go. I will miss all of you guys, and all of it. I appreciate all of your hard work,” Fire Chief Chad Crampton said on Friday, Aug. 22. “I told you before, it’s been nice working with you for 26 years, but it’s time for a new chapter to start. Thank you.”
Crampton’s impromptu speech was made in the middle of the afternoon during a surprise party thrown to celebrate his retirement, which will be official on Aug. 31. The party was put together, without the Chief’s knowledge or permission, by his family and members of the Paris Fire Department (PFD).
Before joining the PFD in 1999, Crampton served as a volunteer firefighter in his hometown of Palatine, Ill. In Paris, he was sworn in by the late Ralph Pearman at the department’s annual Christmas dinner and later, he was promoted to Captain on June 27, 2011.
At that time, he told members of The Paris Beacon News that he “Saw a lot of changes coming.”
“Not just in the fire department (but) in general. We’re expected to know more, do more. The job of a firefighter is not just fighting fires anymore,” a younger Crampton said.
Today, the firefighters who have worked under him and beside him for more than two decades shared that the Chief was correct and that the changes made at the department are “Because of the Chief.”
“We need him to realize that he’s dedicated a lot of his life and service to the community, and whether he thinks that he’s done something other than just his job, just doing his job is still something,” Interim Fire Chief Zack Janis explained earlier this month.
“He came in here and he changed this entire place, probably better than I could have ever done. He got us up to date with the computer system. He got us back to training,” Janis said. “He took the place and transformed it. He brought it into the modern age, and it was a night-and-day difference from before.”
Mark Brinkerhoff, a Captain for the PFD, agreed, sharing that the department has only become a better place because of pushes from Crampton.
“Under his leadership, the department really did a 360,” Brinkerhoff said. “Training is a really big part of it. He has allowed us to and really pushed us to get all of the training that we can … He’s made it a really good place to work.”
More comments, from more of the Chief’s coworkers, also commended the impact his commitment and integrity have had on the culture at the house, its improvements, as well as the impact of his leadership and his legacy.
“He’s made a lot of changes and improvements to the station — equipment, gear, air packs, and upgrades that we rely on every day.”
“You can’t fight a fire without the right tools, and he made sure we had them.”
“That new attack truck came together in about six months because he was willing to go after the grants and put in the work.”
“That new attack truck came together in about six months because he was willing to go after the grants and put in the work.”
“He knocked out the complacency. Now when the tones drop, we’re ready to go in 30–40 seconds.”
“I remember looking over and seeing a white helmet next to me — he was right there, going in with us.”
“Even though he’s the boss, he’ll grab tools and jump in to help right alongside us.”
“When we had that stretch of fatalities last year, he called me in and asked, ‘Are you okay?’ His door is always open.”
“He’s kept us modern, from air packs to communication systems, making us safer and more efficient.”
“When he and I retire, that’s nearly 60 years of experience out the door. But thanks to the upgrades and training he’s put in place, the next generation is set up well.”
“Direct, to the point — you always know where you stand with him.”
“He’s been dedicated to getting us back to modern times, pushing us forward with technology and training.”
“I’d say impressive. Compared to where we were, he’s made huge steps. He’s definitely improved the department.”
“He caught the fire department back up — from training to truck maintenance, we’re in a much better place than we were.”
“He knows how to spend money, but more importantly, he knows how to find it.”
“He got us grants — the drone, the air packs — things that were long overdue.”
“Before, I went years without training. Now everyone is training regularly. That’s the difference he made.”
“He’s the reason I got hired. He pushed me through the whole process and even coached me through the interviews.”
“Back when we worked side by side, he helped train me. We were friends before he became Chief, and I’ve always respected him.”
“Even though I’m close to retirement, I can say without a doubt he’s done a great job as Chief.”
“All around, he’s a decent guy. I like Chad. There you go — quote of the day.”
During his tenure, Chief Crampton has spearheaded numerous training initiatives that raised the department’s standards and prepared generations of firefighters for the challenges of modern emergency response. He also secured numerous grants that assisted the house with upgrades in technology and equipment, including a brand new attack truck.
Just as his legacy is continuing to live on at the department, Crampton is also continuing to move forward. Next month, Crampton will start working for Marathon as a firefighter/paramedic. He is also looking forward to building a new home and spending as much time as possible around his family, without a pager on his hip.