Austin Fire Chief Joel G. Baker has announced his retirement, effective August 31. The city revealed that Baker will be unavailable from August 11, although no specific reasons for his departure were provided by either the city or the fire department.
Tom Vocke will assume the role of acting fire chief starting September 1, as indicated in a city memo. Vocke’s appointment as interim chief will begin immediately following Baker’s departure.
Baker took the helm of the Austin Fire Department in December 2018, following his retirement from the Atlanta Fire and Rescue Department, where he served for three decades, including three years as fire chief. He made history as Austin’s first African-American fire chief.
In an internal email to department members, Vocke expressed fondness for Baker, highlighting his optimistic outlook with the sentiment, “Every day is a holiday. Every meal is a banquet. Every payday is a fortune.” He extended best wishes for Baker’s retirement, hoping it is filled with joy and prosperity.
The city is now initiating a nationwide search for Baker’s successor. Vocke emphasized that the recruitment process aims to attract top-tier candidates with proven leadership in fire and emergency services. Further details regarding the search and timeline will be shared as they become available.
During Baker’s tenure, he navigated the Austin Fire Department through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, introduced mental health assessments for firefighters during their annual medical evaluations, and oversaw the opening of five new fire stations over six years.
In 2025, Baker faced significant criticism when the Austin Firefighters Union expressed a vote of no confidence in him, with 93% of the union’s 993 members supporting the motion following his response to severe flooding in the Hill Country.
