New Southington chief got an early start in fire service  New Southington chief got an early start in fire service  Southington Fire Chief James Paul Advertisement Southington Fire Chief James Paul, Jr., at a fire scene in 2019. Paul was chosen Thursday to be Southingtonâs chief. Dave Zajac, Record-Journal March 05, 2021 06:22PM By Jesse Buchanan, Record-Journal staff SOUTHINGTON â James Paul joined the fire service at nearly the first chance he got, starting as a volunteer in his home town of Branford. Paul signed up on June 10, 1983, âthe day I turned 16,â he said. On Thursday, the townâs fire board appointed him Southington fire chief, a role heâd been filling on an interim basis since the departure of former chief Richard Butler.