Herculaneum Fire Department Chief Kevin Baker has given his letter of resignation to the Board of Aldermen, and his last official day on the job is June 30.
However, that won’t be the last the Fire Department personnel see of him.
Baker is resigning as chief to take a position with Sentinel Emergency Solutions, a firefighting equipment supplier that sells firetrucks, firetruck equipment, boots, gloves, axes, rescue tools, and other related items.
In addition, Baker plans to continue his association with the Herculaneum Fire Department as a volunteer firefighter on nights and weekends.
“This was a hard decision because the fire service is in my blood,” he said. “I grew up around it. I’ve done it for 26 years, and I’m not ready to give it up. And that’s why I still want to give back to the community, and I think this is a great way for me to still do that.”
Baker first became involved in firefighting in 1996 as a teenager in the Junior Firefighter Program. In 2000, he became a volunteer firefighter with the Herculaneum Fire Department. In 2007, he was hired as the first full-time firefighter for the city of Herculaneum, and he has served as the fire chief for the past five years.
His annual salary as the fire chief is $62,000.
During his tenure with the department, many changes have occurred, including merging with the city, hiring three full-time firefighters and purchasing a new firetruck, Baker said.
“I’ve gotten about $1.1 million in grant funding for our Fire Department from FEMA and local grant opportunities,” he said. “So there are a lot of successes there that I’m proud of.”
Baker said he plans to help bring up to speed whoever is chosen to be the next chief.
“I’m still going to stay around and help whoever the next chief is to get him up to where he needs to be to take over officially. So even though I’m stepping back from that position, I’m still going to help out.”
Baker said he appreciates the support he has received over the years.
“I’d like to thank Bill Haggard, who was the previous fire chief. He really mentored me into the position I have and the firefighter and leader I am today,” Baker said. “I also appreciate everything the city administrator and the entire council have done to support me throughout my career and the progression of the Fire Department, because without them my ideas would never have come to fruition.”
Herculaneum City Administrator Jim Kasten said Baker will be missed as chief.
“He put his heart and soul into the Fire Department. He’ll be greatly missed. We wish him well and understand that if there’s a better offer out there, you can’t begrudge somebody who wants to make their life better. We’re glad that he wants to still be part of the Fire Department and hopefully the transition will go smoothly and we can find a replacement that can keep the Fire Department going in a positive direction.”
Baker said he’s grateful for his time with the Fire Department.
“The job is amazing. It is really one of the best jobs. I’m truly blessed because I’ve had two great opportunities in my life. One to be a firefighter and still be involved in it and now this new opportunity for me to venture out to something new. I couldn’t be more blessed to have those opportunities.”