AUSTIN (KXAN) — According to a memo obtained by KXAN, Austin Fire Chief Joel Baker is retiring at the end of the month. Tom Vocke will serve as interim fire chief beginning Tuesday.
“Austin Firefighters congratulate AFD Chief of Staff Tom Vocke on his appointment to Interim Chief of the Austin Fire Department,” David Girouard, president of the Austin Firefighters Association (AFA), responded. “We thank Chief Baker for his lifetime of service and career dedicated to saving lives, protecting property, and improving the safety and working conditions for the men and women of the fire service.”
Austin hires first African-American fire chief
In 2018, KXAN reported that Baker was hired as Austin’s first African-American fire chief. He had previously worked as the fire chief for the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department and had spent more than 30 years as a firefighter in the Atlanta area.
“After more than seven years of dedicated service to the City of Austin, Chief Baker will conclude an exceptional 40-year career devoted to public safety, emergency response, and service to ourcommunity,” the city manager wrote. “Throughout his distinguished tenure in the fire service, Chief Baker has demonstrated unwavering professionalism, visionary leadership, and a steadfast commitment to protecting our residents’ lives and property.”…