St. Charles Will Seek New Fire Chief

The city of St. Charles will start a search for a new fire chief, Mayor Sally Faith said Friday. 

On Thursday evening, former St. Charles Fire Chief Ernie Rhodes was announced Thursday as the new chief for the . 

The West County fire district serves a number of cities, including Town and Country, Manchester, Ballwin, Winchester, Twin Oaks, portions of Valley Park and nearby parts of unincorporated St. Louis County. 

Faith said Rhoads is no longer working in . She plans to appoint an interim fire chief soon. 

"We should know something at the beginning of the week," she said.

From there, Faith said the city will discuss a process for conducting a search for a new fire chief. Faith said she wishes Rhoads well.

"I wish him nothing but the best," she said. 

Rhodes has served as fire chief in St. Charles for nine years. He said the foreword-thinking nature of West County Fire Protection District attracted him to the job. 

"They embrace change," Rhodes said. "I looked at the opportunity that was here in St. Louis County and with the vision of the board... there's just a huge opportunity for some of the passions that I enjoy, one of them is education. I've been teaching within the fire service for many, many years and when I heard they built the  that really got my attention."

He said that overall the move was a better "career move and "a better opportunity" for him.

"I think I can serve at a higher capacity," Rhodes explained.

Rhodes said he expects his new role to begin Oct. 1.