DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — The Decatur Fire Chief will be starting a new journey next month.

Jeff Abbott announced Monday that he will be retiring after three decades with the Decatur Fire Department. His last day will be March 15, 30 years to the day when he first started.

He said people told him that he would know when the time comes for him to retire and he’s determined that time has come.

Abbott walked into the doors of the Decatur Fire Dearment in 1995 ready to serve.

“The things that I saw was the ability to help people, the ability to impact somebody on their worst day,” Abbott said.

That mindset helped him climb the ranks to Lieutenant in 1999, Captain in 2006, Deputy Fire Chief the following year and eventually Fire Chief.

“I spent the last 10 (years) as chief,” he said. “I spent a lot of my career in the front offices and management, and it was just time.”

After an enduring career of fighting fires and leading a team, Chief Abbott is stepping down. He’s from the small Sangamon County village of Dawson and he grew up watching his father fight fires for their volunteer station.

Abbott said the biggest reward is having an impact on people in his own community and would do one thing differently if he could start all over.

“If I look back on it, I wish I would have stayed on the line longer, a lot longer,” Abbott said. “I liked it much better than sitting at a desk and figuring out payroll or something of that nature.”

Abbott said the job isn’t always easy. His piece of advice to those in the industry:

“You’re making a difference in people’s lives. Is it the best every time? no. “Is it the worst every time? No,” he said. “But the good ones far outweigh the bad ones. So just take time and enjoy it.”

During Abbott’s time as Chief, he oversaw the building of three new fire stations and the remodeling of four others. The City of Decatur also recognized him for his efforts in leading cancer prevention for firefighters.