Edina's New Fire Chief Has A Familiar Face

Edina's new fire chief, Tom Schmitz, has more than a little experience in the city.

He served in the Edina Fire Department for 18 years—first as a firefighter and later as Batallion Chief—before leaving in August 2011 to take an assistant chief job in Eden Prairie.

“I am excited to be returning to a highly respected fire department,” he said in a statement, “and look forward to leading the organization in its continuation of the great service it provides to the residents of Edina and the surrounding communities.”

He'll start his new job Feb. 17.

“Tom is going to be a great addition to our Fire Department and to our overall leadership team,” city manager Scott Neal said in a statement. “He brings 25 years of experience in the field with him back to Edina, and we are excited to see him back in this new role.”

Edina hired Schmitz in 1993. He was later promoted to the job of Battalion Chief, where he oversaw the department’s training and safety programs and supervised paid-on-call firefighters. 

He helped create the Special Operations Team and oversaw construction of the South Metro Public Safety Training Facility. 

He also has deep roots in Eden Prairie, where's he's worked since 1988, first as a volunteer firefighter and later as a lieutenant, before he was hired full-time in 2011.

Schmitz will replace interim fire chief Darrell Todd.