- Chad Eha, a Boone County native, rose through every rank before being selected as Burlington’s fire chief from over 60 applicants.
- He follows a deep family legacy, inspired by his father Phil, a longtime fire chief and volunteer with more than 60 years in fire service.
- Eha takes over at a time of rapid growth, with increasing call volumes, staffing expansion and plans for a new fire station.
Newly minted Burlington Fire Protection District Chief Chad Eha, a Boone County native, is following in his father’s footsteps.
“I actually grew up in a fire station,” Eha reminisced with LINK nky.
His father, Phil, served as a fire chief in Crescent Springs, in addition to volunteering for many years as a firefighter in Burlington. Phil started his career in fire safety in 1964, amassing over 60 years of experience.
Eha said it was Phil’s grit and inclination to serve the community that motivated him to join the Burlington Fire Protection District as a 14-year-old cadet back in 1995. Now, more than 30 years later, Eha continues to carry on his family’s legacy.
“He monitored my career very closely, and if he knew I was working, there were times when he would just show up, just to see it and make sure I was okay,” Eha told LINK nky.
He was appointed as the chief of the Burlington Fire Protection District following a nationwide search conducted by the district’s governing body. Out of over 60 applicants, Eha came out on top due to his local roots and his decades of experience at the fire station. He replaced outgoing Fire Chief Jeff Barlow, who retired last October.
Eha has worked essentially every job one could have at a fire station throughout his career, serving as a firefighter, EMT, lieutenant, captain and fire marshal.
“I’ve seen a lot of incidents,” Eha said. “I feel like I’ve got good relationships with the community.”
Eha described the role of chief as multifaceted, involving budget management, hiring, equipment decisions and general leadership responsibilities—all while ensuring both community safety and his firefighters’ well-being.
Andrea South-Lambert, a member of the Burlington Fire Protection District board of trustees, praised Eha’s hiring, touting his experience and familiarity with the community.
“For more than two decades, Captain Eha has been a trusted and dedicated leader within the Burlington Fire Protection District,” she told LINK nky in an email. “The board is incredibly enthusiastic about his leadership, his dedication to developing staff and his clear vision for the district moving forward.”
The move comes at a critical juncture for the Burlington Fire Protection District, as the agency is planning for a new fire station, increasing the staff’s headcount and managing growing service demands.
During Eha’s time in Burlington, he’s observed the station’s rapid expansion, driven by the district’s need to keep pace with explosive growth within the district’s coverage area. Eha said the number of runs made by firefighters in Burlington has nearly tripled since the beginning of his career.
“It’s kind of surreal to think about how much not only the department has changed, but the area around us has changed,” he said. “We’ve seen very substantial growth in the Burlington response area over that 20-plus years; the run volume mirrors that growth, so the guys are a lot busier than they were back in 2000.”
In Boone County, fire and emergency medical services are primarily provided by fire protection districts rather than city-run departments. These districts are autonomous taxing entities governed by boards, established under state law to serve specific geographic regions, including both incorporated and unincorporated areas. Burlington is one of seven fire protection districts in Boone County. The City of Florence operates its own municipal fire agency.
Eha expressed pride in his new role, viewing it as recognition of his dedication and loyalty.
“It’s a very humbling experience—very surreal, but I’m also very excited to see where we’re going,” he said.
