ST. PAUL, Minn. — Mayor Kaohly Her has nominated Assistant Fire Chief Jeramiah Melquist to become St. Paul’s next fire chief, selecting a 26-year veteran of the department to lead its firefighting and emergency medical operations. Her announced the nomination Friday, October 30, following a selection process that produced five finalists. Melquist’s appointment requires confirmation by the St. Paul City Council, which is likely to consider the nomination on November 18. If confirmed, Melquist would take responsibility for a department with a current budget of approximately $90 million and an authorized strength of 457 firefighters. The position oversees a public safety agency whose responsibilities extend beyond responding to fires: St. Paul firefighters are trained as emergency medical technicians, some also serve as paramedics, and the department responds to all medical emergencies within the city. Melquist’s nomination would continue the department’s recent practice of selecting a chief who has worked through its ranks. His 26 years as a St. Paul firefighter would bring extensive experience within the organization to its top leadership position. The department has been under interim leadership since the retirement of former Fire Chief Butch Inks at the end of December. Greg Duren, previously an assistant fire chief, began serving as interim chief on December 31. Duren said in December that he did not intend to apply for the permanent position. Inks had led the department since 2019. He joined the St. Paul Fire Department in 1994 and advanced through its ranks before becoming chief, following a career path taken by many of the city’s previous fire chiefs. The process to identify a permanent successor included a 14-member fire chief selection committee established and appointed by the City Council in August. Its membership included community leaders and people with current or former experience in firefighting and emergency medical services. The committee brought forward five finalists for the mayor’s consideration. Her selected Melquist from that group, placing his nomination before the council for the next step in the appointment process. When the committee was established, Councilmember HwaJeong Kim described the position as a demanding leadership role within a department facing operational, financial and staffing challenges. “The next fire chief will inherit one of Minnesota’s busiest and most complex all-hazards fire and EMS systems,” Kim said in August. “Meeting the challenges of rising demand, fiscal pressure, workforce transition, and evolving community needs will require innovation and strong leadership.” Those responsibilities include maintaining the department’s readiness for both fire suppression and emergency medical calls while managing its personnel, equipment, training and budget. Melquist’s nomination also comes days after city officials announced a significant recognition of St. Paul’s fire protection capabilities. On Wednesday, officials said the St. Paul Fire Department had earned an Insurance Services Office Class 1 rating, the highest classification available through the ISO Public Protection Classification program. According to the announcement, St. Paul is the only fire department in Minnesota with that rating. The classification evaluates multiple parts of a community’s fire protection system. Areas reviewed include department staffing and training, fire apparatus and equipment, emergency communications and the water supply available for firefighting. The evaluation also considers fire prevention, public education and fire investigations. The rating therefore reflects several components of community fire protection rather than a single department function. If the City Council confirms Melquist’s appointment, he would assume leadership as the department works to maintain those capabilities while addressing the demands identified during the selection process. For now, Melquist remains the mayor’s nominee. The anticipated November 18 council vote would determine whether he becomes St. Paul’s next permanent fire chief.