The Duluth Fire Department does not operate today the way it did in 1912. However, an attempt to change the decade-old city charter to add another command staff position failed Monday night at Duluth City Council.
DFD is authorized to have a fire chief and two deputy chiefs. Chief Dennis Edwards, supported by city administration and the Local 101 firefighters union, asked councilors to change the city charter to allow him three deputy chiefs instead of two.
"Over the years, we keep expanding our mission. And between that and a lot of regulation to keep track of training and how much training we have to do in certain areas, we just need to expand the command staff to kind of adapt to the changing needs of the fire department," Edwards said.
However, changing the city charter requires unanimous council approval, and the ordinance only received eight of nine needed votes. Councilor Jay Fosle was opposed.