Roseville will soon say goodbye to longtime Fire Marshal John Loftus in April. Loftus began his fire service career in southern Minnesota in 1975 before settling in Roseville in 1991.
Loftus was originally hired as the Fire Marshal for Roseville’s Community Development Department. His responsibilities included reviewing construction plans and reviewing installation of sprinkler systems and fire alarm systems before allowing anyone to occupy a building. He was also on call to the Fire Chief, responding to fires during the day and was also on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to investigate the cause of any fire.
Loftus has seen a lot over his more than 25 years with the city. One fire that stands out for him occurred when fuel tankers blew up at the Williams Pipeline loading facility in the mid-1990s, and the investigation into the cause of the explosions. One accomplishment that Loftus said he is most proud of and grateful for was the privilege of being involved in the planning, design and construction of the new fire station.
“It has been a pleasure working with John these 25 years,” said Fire Chief Tim O’Neill. “It’s rare to find someone who is as knowledgeable about all aspects of fire service and who works diligently to assure the safety of firefighters and the public, day in and day out. We will miss his unique approach to problem solving and willingness to jump in and get the job done, regardless of the task,” said O’Neill.
Loftus and his wife Pam will spend time at their cabin in Wisconsin, where John enjoys fishing and golfing. He also plans to spend some of his free time doing volunteer work.
Loftus’s last day with Roseville is April 12. The city will celebrate his retirement on Thursday, April 7 at 3:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. The community is invited to the celebration.