Swanson to be appointed new St. Charles fire chief

ST. CHARLES – Scott Swanson is set to be appointed the new fire chief of the St. Charles Fire Department at Monday's special meeting of the St. Charles City Council.

Swanson had been serving as acting fire chief since October, when former chief Joseph Schelstreet retired. Monday's meeting will be a audio/visual teleconference.
 
Swanson joined the St. Charles Fire Department full-time in 1988. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1992, captain in 2003, battalion chief in 2009, and assistant fire chief in 2013. Swanson also previously served as acting fire chief in 2007, during the transition between previous fire chiefs.
 
Swanson holds a bachelor degree in fire service management from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and a master degree in management and organizational behavior from Benedictine University in Lisle.

“Scott has provided exemplary service to the St. Charles Fire Department and the community for many years,” St. Charles City Administrator Mark Koenen said in a news release from the city of St. Charles. “He has shown he has the skills and abilities to effectively lead the department now and into the future.”

The St. Charles Fire Department provides fire suppression, rescue, emergency medical, emergency management, fire inspection, and public education services to the St. Charles community. The department earned a Class 1 PPC ISO rating and is fully accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International and the Center for Public Safety Excellence, Inc.