After four decades as Lakeland's fire chief, Gary Ballard is retiring. 

• Lakeland fire chief Gary Ballard stepping down after 40 years with department
• City of Lakeland is holding a special retirement ceremony for him
• Ballard joined department in Dec. 1977 as volunteer

And the community he has served for so long is honoring him. 

Tuesday marked 40 years of service for Ballard and today, the city of Lakeland is holding a special retirement ceremony for him. The ceremony will be at Fire Station 1 at 4 p.m. 

Ballard said the day is bittersweet. 

"I began my career here in December the 12, 1977," said Ballard, a Lakeland native who was 18 years old when he saw a sign in a store window for volunteer firefighters. "Through that very small beginning of that meeting, I really found my passion and that is to do what firefighters do everyday, to work with people and to be able to help those in need."

And for the last 40 years, that is what Ballard did. 

Along the way, he worked his way through the ranks at the department, ultimately becoming chief in 2010. 

Under his administration, the fire department grew tremendously and received the highest achievable public protection rating. However, Ballard said its not the accolades he will remember but the people he knew as his fire family.  

"It's a very tight knit family group atmosphere and it is very much like a family," he said. "But I know it's that time for me to go, it's time for me to start a new chapter in my life and look at new horizons and when January of 18 comes around it's a whole new world for me." 

Ballard said he is looking forward to spending time with his family and doing some traveling. 

Lakeland's city manager has appointed Douglas Riley to be the new chief. Riley formerly served as the assistant chief of operations for the department.