Wichita names Michael Mire as next fire chief ahead of Aug. 24 transition

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Wichita City Manager Dennis Marstall has appointed Michael Mire as the city’s next fire chief following a national search, the City of Wichita announced July 15.

Mire is expected to assume command on Aug. 24, 2026, replacing Chief Elizabeth Snow, who is retiring after nearly 40 years with the Wichita Fire Department. The city describes the command change as expected, rather than completed.

A planned leadership change i

The appointment identifies Mire as the next leader of Wichita’s fire department and sets an anticipated date for the transition from Snow’s tenure. Marstall made the selection after the national search, according to the city’s announcement.

Snow remains identified in the announcement as the retiring chief. The available city information does not say that her retirement had already taken effect before the expected Aug. 24 transition.

The city’s announcements do not provide Mire’s prior job title or biography. They also do not identify the terms of his appointment or specify policy priorities for the incoming chief.

Department size and upcoming station i

Mire is expected to take command of a department with approximately 497 employees and an annual budget of about $82 million. The department operates from 22 firehouses, according to the city.

A 23rd station is expected to open in 2027. That future opening remains an expectation rather than a completed addition to the department’s current network of firehouses.

The staffing, budget and facilities figures outline the scale of the department that will be under new leadership. The appointment is a transition at the top of Wichita’s emergency-response system, which the city says includes nearly 500 employees and a multi-million-dollar annual budget.

What is known next i

The next announced step is Mire’s expected assumption of command on Aug. 24. The city has confirmed the appointment and the expected transition date, but has not released further details about the transition process or any interim arrangements.

Likewise, the available announcements do not describe initiatives planned under Mire or changes to department staffing, spending or operations. The appointment itself does not establish that such changes will occur.

For now, the city’s confirmed timeline is limited to the July 15 announcement and the anticipated Aug. 24 command change. The department’s current 22-firehouse system and its planned 23rd station in 2027 remain the facilities details provided by the city alongside the leadership announcement.

Sources

• Strategic Communications: Wichita News, City of Wichita
• Wichita News Flash, City of Wichita

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