By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
- St. Paul, Minn. — Newly sworn Firefighter Timothy “Tim” Bertz, 52, a former U.S. Navy SEAL, died days after graduating from the St. Paul Fire Department academy and before his first shift. FireRescue1
- Timeline: Bertz graduated Wednesday at the Minnesota History Center; he suffered a medical event at home Saturday and later died at the hospital. FireRescue1
- Service & life: Began in the fire service in 2017 (Harris Fire, later Lino Lakes duty crew); remembered by SPFD leaders for discipline and leadership. Survived by his wife, Andrea. FireRescue1
- Memorial: A public service is planned at Maranatha Church in Forest Lake. Details to follow from SPFD. FireRescue1
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The St. Paul Fire Department is mourning Firefighter Timothy “Tim” Bertz, who died suddenlyjust days after completing the department’s eight-week academy and before he could start his first tour, officials said. Bertz, 52, experienced a serious medical event at home on Saturday and later died at the hospital. FireRescue1
Bertz and 20 classmates graduated Wednesday in a ceremony at the Minnesota History Center. Though newly sworn, the department noted he was no stranger to service: a U.S. Navy SEAL veteran, Bertz entered the fire service in 2017 as a paid-on-call firefighter in Harris (Chisago County) and later served on the Lino Lakes duty crew. FireRescue1
“He excelled in the academy because of his discipline and the way he led by example,” Fire Chief Butch Inks said, calling the loss devastating to classmates and instructors who had trained alongside him. Deputy Chief Jamie Smithadded that while Bertz’s time at SPFD was brief, his character and commitment made an immediate impact. FireRescue1
SPFD said memorial arrangements include a public service at Maranatha Church in Forest Lake; the department will share additional details as they are finalized. Bertz is survived by his wife, Andrea, along with family and friends across Minnesota’s fire service community. FireRescue1