St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her has nominated Assistant Chief of Operations Jeremiah Melquist to become the city’s next fire chief, putting a 26-year department veteran in line to take over a department stretched thin by medical calls and an ongoing paramedic shortage. The nomination still needs to clear the St. Paul City Council before Melquist can officially step into the role.
Melquist currently oversees emergency response activities across the city, according to kstp.com, which reported that his nomination requires city council confirmation before he can officially take over the department. A city-appointed committee formed in August to evaluate candidates and gather community feedback during the search, the outlet noted.
Melquist would succeed former Fire Chief Butch Inks, who retired at the end of 2025 after more than 30 years with the department, per the same kstp.com report. Interim Fire Chief Greg Duren has led the department since Inks’ retirement while officials searched for a permanent replacement, filling the gap during the months-long selection process.
A Department Buckling Under Medical Calls
Whoever takes the reins inherits a department under significant strain. St. Paul Fire received more than 65,000 service calls during the year, with at least 90% classified as medical emergencies, kstp.com reported. A separate account from Firehouse put the share of the department’s work tied to medical emergencies at 84%, illustrating how differently that workload has been quantified in recent reporting.
The department currently counts 179 paramedics on staff, a number officials consider a shortage, according to kstp.com. Rather than relying solely on outside hiring, the department has been training its own ranks: ten St. Paul Fire EMTs and firefighters completed a one-year program to become paramedics while continuing to work full time, and another class of 15 employees is now enrolled, expected to finish in 10 months, the station reported.
“Instead of chasing the paramedics, we need to start creating the paramedics,” the department said of its approach, per kstp.com’s reporting. The training curriculum was developed and delivered in partnership with Regions Hospital’s EMS team and Anoka Technical College, and recent city funding is expected to sustain the program for the next few years, the outlet noted.
Rising Costs and an Aging Fleet
The incoming chief will also face mounting equipment costs. The department received a $1.35 million grant toward an RTX electric engine but still must cover an outstanding local match, according to citizenportal.ai. The department faces nearly $1.6 million in vehicle replacement obligations for 2027, the site reported, and vehicle and equipment costs have climbed substantially since 2020.
On the infrastructure side, the department recently restored its station network to full strength. Renovating St. Paul’s Station 3 cost $3 million and brought the city back to 16 fire stations, Firehouse reported, noting that the department’s data showed the greatest increase in demand has come downtown.
A Pattern of Long Tenures and Sudden Exits
Leadership turnover at the department hasn’t always been predictable. Past St. Paul fire chiefs have served long terms, but the department has also experienced sudden turnover, according to a Twin Cities report on Inks’ retirement announcement. St. Paul Fire Department total calls increased 63%, while EMS calls increased 64%.
Those strains underscore the scale of the job awaiting Melquist if confirmed. The St. Paul City Council must confirm his nomination before he can take office. Until then, the department continues to operate under Duren’s interim leadership as it works through its paramedic pipeline and equipment needs.
