Chunn takes over as new fire chief

Bill Chunn has officially stepped into the role of Philadelphia’s fire chief following the retirement of Deric Horne on Tuesday.

He was appointed to the position at the city board meeting on May 28, alongside the new deputy fire chief, Jonathan Moore.

Chunn has dedicated 20 years to the Philadelphia Fire Department, serving the last two years as deputy chief. He began his firefighting career in Meridian before returning home to serve.

Chunn said that while many firefighters come in with a lifelong dream of the job, his path was different. He said he “just went out on a limb and took it.”

“Twenty years later, I’m still here,” he said. “I like helping people, and that’s why I chose to work in Philadelphia.”

Chunn said a unique aspect of the department’s work involves close engagement with schools, including teaching CPR at the vo-tech and recruiting seniors before they graduate.

“The more fire safety you can do, the more it saves you later down the road,” he said.

Thanks to advancements in technology, grants, smoke detectors in homes, and fire safety education for kids, the number of serious house fires has significantly decreased, Chunn said.

He encourages young people interested in firefighting to simply “stop by and see them,” adding that the department has also been hosting more job fairs at the Coliseum.

Before becoming deputy chief, Chunn also owned and operated a construction business specializing in metal roofing, vinyl siding, and building construction between shifts.

Reflecting on the toughest part of the firefighting job, Chunn said it’s the tragedy and loss he’s witnessed over the years.

“When you do help people, you feel good about it and know that you made a difference,” he said.

Unlike some who climb the ranks for the title, Chunn said his motivation for becoming fire chief was different.

“Most people want the title, but I’ve never really cared about that,” he said. “I took it for the option of bettering the department and helping out.”

Looking ahead, Chunn said the department is preparing for high turnover, as a third of its firefighters will become eligible for retirement in a few years.

“I learned a lot from Chief Horne and Chief Clark,” he said. “The good part on my end is the people before me got everything laid out, and I didn’t walk into a mess—that makes a big difference.”

One of his new responsibilities involves managing the budget and navigating the political side of the position.

“We’ve had a good mayor and board, so I don’t foresee any issues,” he said. “They’ve been good to take care of us.”

Chunn recently secured more personal leave time for his employees and is now focused on placing personnel into long-term positions as retirements approach.

Overall, he said the department is running smoothly, and he doesn’t anticipate any major changes under his leadership.