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Minneapolis Confirms New Fire Chief

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Minneapolis has a new fire department chief.

Mayor R.T. Rybak hailed the City Council's unanimous confirmation Friday of John Fruetel as the city's next fire department chief.

"John Fruetel is the right leader for this department," Rybak said. "There is also no one more skilled in emergency response: from the collapse of the 35W bridge to the 2011 tornado in North Minneapolis, Chief Fruetel has been there for the residents of Minneapolis in tough times."

Fruetel – pronounced: FREE-tel – said he felt honored to be confirmed as the city's fire chief, adding that he has dreamed about the job since he was a boy.

"I am ready to address the challenges we face and eager to get back to leading this great department and serving the residents of Minneapolis," Fruetel said.

Fruetel began his firefighting career when he joined the Minneapolis Fire Department in the 1979. In 2010, he began work in Minneapolis' Emergency Management Division, where he was responsible for the Training Needs Assessment Program.

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