FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Friday, July 18, 2025 

 

CONTACT 

Jennifer “JLor” Lor 

JLor@ci.stpaul.mn.us 

(651) 417-9454 

 

 

SAINT PAUL – Mayor Melvin Carter is proud to announce his reappointment of Barton “Butch” Inks as Saint Paul Fire Chief, who today celebrates his 40th year serving the City of Saint Paul. Chief Inks continues the department’s legacy as a national leader in emergency response, workforce development, and community engagement. 

 

"Chief Inks’ leadership and deep commitment to our city has strengthened our Community-First Public Safety vision, reaffirming that effective emergency response begins with trust,” said Mayor Carter. “He’s helped shape a department that’s not only ready in crisis, but also connected to our residents and neighborhoods every day. I’m proud to reappoint Chief Inks and continue building the future of public safety together.” 

 

Chief Inks was first hired by the City of Saint Paul in 1985 as a teenager through a city youth employment program, eventually joining the Saint Paul Fire Department as a firefighter in 1994. Before his appointment as Fire Chief in November 2019, he held several key leadership roles and helped redefine the department’s commitment to public safety and community service. 

 

“I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue serving as Fire Chief in the city I’ve worked in for four decades,” Chief Inks said. "I’m proud of the team of professionals I work alongside every day, and proud of the service we provide to the residents of Saint Paul. It’s truly an honor to lead this department. I look forward to building on the work we’ve done together.” 

 

Throughout his tenure, Chief Inks has led the department through historic growth and transformation, while advancing critical public safety initiatives that improve response times, promote equity, modernize fire and EMS services citywide, and support the city’s Community-First Public Safety framework. 

 

Chief Inks’ notable accomplishments include: 

  • - Coordinated 200 emergency responders during the COVID-19 pandemic and periods of civil unrest, managing over 50 fire incidents during a 12-hour period and preventing millions in property damage 

  • - Expanded career pathways for firefighter and EMS through a partnership Saint Paul Public Schools 

  • - Launched the Fire Explorer Program, giving 16-year-olds a direct route into fire service careers 

  • - Implemented Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) response models, improving response times and creating more than 30 new local jobs 

  • - Increased EMS and fire staffing to the highest levels in department history through an innovative D-shift schedule that also reduced overtime costs 

  • - Introduced comprehensive cardiac screenings and enhanced physical exams to support responder health and safety 

  • - Secured funding and approval for a new fire station in the city’s highest-call volume area, expanding the department to 16 stations 

  • - Procured Minnesota’s first all-electric fire engine, lowering emissions and supporting firefighter wellness 

  • - Fostered strong, collaborative relationships with union leaders to create a labor-management model now considered a benchmark in the field 

 

His second six-year term will commence on November 13, 2025, following the completion of his first term. 

 

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Last Edited: July 18, 2025