Russell Schultz, a 34-year public-safety veteran, is the new fire chief for the Walker Fire Department and told a City of Walker podcast interview that he will expand career staffing, push community CPR and preparedness programs, and recruit paid-on-call firefighters.

Schultz said his priorities include bolstering community risk reduction — such as smoke-detector outreach and public CPR training — and reducing the burden on paid-on-call responders by placing career staff in stations. "Starting October 4, we'll have 2 at 2 of our 3 fire stations," Schultz said. He described the staffing change as the first step in a multi-year effort to increase career coverage and reduce strain on volunteers.

Why it matters: Walker relies on a combination model of paid-on-call and career staff. Schultz framed the changes as efforts to lower preventable loss of life and property, to expand the department's ability to respond to medical and other nonfire emergencies, and to build a pipeline from paid-on-call service to career positions.

Schultz summarized his background and reasons for taking the position: "I have 34 years in public safety, and that that includes, the entire 34 years in the fire service and around 20 of those, doing law enforcement as well." He said he retired after 30 years from Harrison County on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and later served as deputy chief in the Louisiana State Fire Marshal's Office, overseeing statewide operations including emergency response, investigations, code enforcement and state fire training.

On community preparedness, Schultz emphasized preventing loss as much as responding to it. "Our goal is to be reduced to risk where we don't have those calls in the community," he said, describing plans to expand CPR training and public-safety education. He said department members will take CPR instructor training in October so the department can offer community CPR classes "late in the fall, in the winter." Schultz also warned against complacency and urged residents to maintain smoke detectors. "I have yet to be on a fatal fire that had a working smoke detector where the people were, you know, were not disabled," he said.

Recruitment and training details described in the interview: paid-on-call applications are open through the middle of August; applicants must live within 3.5 miles of a fire station to qualify for paid-on-call positions; applicants must pass a physical abilities test and background check; the department pays for recruits to attend the fire academy, which the chief said begins in October. Schultz described paid-on-call service as a recruitment pipeline: the department often hires paid-on-call members into career positions after assessing fit on both sides.

Schultz also noted broader department relationships and support: he praised the Walker police, public works and administrative staff and said he has had positive early interaction with the mayor and city commission. He described Walker as a smaller community he wanted to join so he could build close ties with residents and department members.

For more information on paid-on-call openings and department programs, the podcast host directed listeners to the Walker Fire Department social media pages and walker.city/fire.