According to the district, Chief Ralston began his career as a volunteer with Gardner Public Safety in 2008 before joining Fire District No 1 as a volunteer later that year. He joined the department in 2011 as a full-time firefighter and worked his way up through the ranks to become a Master Firefighter and joined the Prevention Division in May 2020 as an inspector. Most recently, he was named the Deputy Fire Marshal of District No. 1.
A graduate of Trenton High School and a veteran who served five years in the U.S. Army, Chief Ralston is the son of retired Trenton Fire Chief Tony and Marlene Ralston, who attended the ceremony along with his wife, Cassy, and two daughters, Madison and Mackenzie. His daughters had the honor of participating in the pinning ceremony for their father.