Indiana Chief Selected as Finalist to Lead Minnetonka Fire Department

Minnetonka has selected Clay Fire Territory Fire Chief John Vance as the lone finalist to be Minnetonka Fire Department’s next chief.

Assuming Vance successfully completes the remaining steps, Minnetonka will make a formal employment offer. Further details will be available at that point.

Vance currently heads a department that provides service to 66,000 people across five Indiana communities near the Michigan state line, the University of Notre Dame and the City of South Bend.

However, Vance is a local boy through and through. He grew up off Plymouth Road, just north of Ridgedale. He attended junior high here and graduated from Wayzata High School.

He told the Minnetonka City Council on Monday that he wasn’t just “trolling” for jobs. He’d wanted to return to Minnesota for the bike trails, parks and open spaces.

“I have really been trying to get back in Minnesota for some time,” Vance said.

Vance would replace Minnetonka Fire Chief Joe Wallin, who announced his retirement in January and left his job of 19 years March 31.