Scott Barthelmass has settled in as chief of the Eureka Fire Protection District.
Barthelmass, 53, of Kirkwood took over on Jan. 1 following Greg Brown’s retirement. Brown, 59, of Eureka served as chief from 1995 until Dec. 31. He had been with the district for 43 years, beginning as a junior firefighter at 16 years old.
Barthelmass has been a public servant for more than three decades and said he intends to continue putting the community first as chief.
Initially joining the fire service as a volunteer firefighter while attending college at Central Methodist College, Barthelmass went on to become a police officer, paramedic, and, eventually, a full-time firefighter with Eureka Fire.
Barthelmass began volunteering with Eureka Fire in 1997 and moved into the district’s public information officer role a year later.
“My goal as a chief is really to take the resources we have to provide (residents) with the safest community, really working to continue to foster relationships with our law enforcement partners, our Public Works officials, our schools,” Barthelmass said. “You often hear the phrase, it takes a village to raise a child, but it takes a village to make a community safe as well.”
Pat Feder, Board of Directors chairman, said he has worked closely with Barthelmass, starting when Barthelmass served as the district’s public information officer and later when he became assistant chief in 2022. Feder said the board has “100 percent confidence” in Barthelmass’ abilities as chief.
“He’s a great leader,” Feder said. “He’s a guy who is always working for the community. Community involvement is one of the biggest things that I like a lot about him. It’s important for fire districts to see needs (in the community) and to anticipate what is needed.”
Board of Director members voted unanimously on June 27, 2024, for Barthelmass to succeed Brown.
Barthelmass, who was paid $123,102 as assistant chief, is paid $134,182 as chief.
Longtime public servant
After graduating from Kirkwood High School in 1989, Barthelmass went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1993 from Central Methodist University in Fayette. While working to earn his degree, Barthelmass became a volunteer firefighter with the Fayette Fire Department.
Barthelmass joined the Overland Police Department in 1994. He retired as a sergeant in 2016.
During his time with the Overland Police, Barthelmass earned an associate’s degree in Paramedic Technology in 2003 and started working part-time on a critical care transport/flight program for St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
Barthelmass began volunteering with Eureka Fire in 1997 while working full-time as a police officer. In 2016, after he retired from law enforcement, Barthelmass took over the district’s outreach programs, working to reduce community risk before accidents or emergencies arise.
“We’re never going to run out of 911 calls, but if we can prevent something from happening, (for example) if there’s a senior citizen that we can identify having a fall risk, we can help a family member or local organization put handrails in so that they don’t fall,” Barthelmass said. “If we prevent them from getting injured, that’s just as awesome.”
When Barthelmass became assistant chief in 2022, he also took on teaching the next generation of firefighters with the National Fire Academy. During his vacation time, Barthelmass said he instructs at workshops across the country.
“It gives me an opportunity to interact with other firefighters, other fire departments and see other things that departments are doing,” Barthelmass said. “It’s really kind of a unique opportunity.”
Family man
Barthelmass met his wife, Amy, through Eureka Fire, where they both volunteered.
He said that Amy, who now works in home health care, grew up in Eureka. They married in 2013.
The couple’s son, Jackson, 9, is “a regular” at Station 1, Barthelmass said. Barthelmass said one of his favorite things to do in his free time is spending time with Jackson outside, whether it’s building a survival shelter on a friend’s farm or learning how to make elk calls at Lone Elk State Park.
“I really like to take every opportunity to be out in the woods with my little boy, and my wife loves to fish, so we’ll do that,” Barthelmass.
Barthelmass grew up in Kirkwood and lives in a home built on the property previously owned by his great-grandparents. His three siblings all live within a block of his house, which abuts the house he was raised in.
Barthelmass is a member of the Eureka Lions and Elks organizations, along with the Kirkwood Kiwanis and the men’s Christian leadership group, the Legacy Builders. He’s a member of the Kirkwood United Methodist Church.
Future of the district
Barthelmass said some challenges he will need to address as chief are rising costs and hiring and retaining firefighters to meet the district’s growing needs.
He said Eureka Fire continues to find ways to be fiscally responsible as firefighting becomes seemingly more expensive every year.
Barthelmass also said the district continues to see an increase in calls for service.
He said Eureka Fire responded to 3,330 calls last year, a 9.9 percent increase from 2023 and the most calls in the district’s history. He said the district needs to be able to hire and retain firefighters due to the rising number of calls.
“We have amazing people, really the biggest asset that this organization has is its people,” Barthelmass said. “The challenge for me is that it’s become a very competitive industry; retention is key. It takes about five years to really build and train somebody to be the best paramedic, the best firefighter.”
As chief, Barthelmass said he wants to continue community outreach programs to reduce safety risks through education. Recently, Barthelmass said a few paramedics reached out to him with the idea of attending the monthly senior luncheon at the Timbers Recreation Center to provide free blood pressure checks and health screens.
“We continue to respond to calls, but at the same time, we’re going to continue our outreach,” he said.
Feder said the transition from Brown and Barthelmass has been smooth.
“The spirit of forward-thinking still continues in this department (with Barthelmass), and we’re excited for the future,” he said.