St. Charles Fire Chief Joseph Schelstreet has announced his retirement, effective Oct. 4, 2019. Schelstreet has served as Fire Chief since 2013.

Assistant Fire Chief Scott Swanson has been named acting fire chief of the department.

Schelstreet

Schelstreet joined the St. Charles Fire Department full-time in 1988 as a firefighter. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1992, captain in 1997, assistant chief in 2003. He served as acting fire chief in 2012 before stepping into the chief role permanently in 2013.

“Joe is a hometown guy who has served his community well for many years,” said Mayor Raymond Rogina. “He has worked hard to make sure our citizens receive the finest fire safety and emergency medical services. I am grateful for this commitment and dedication to the St. Charles community, and I appreciate the professionalism he exhibited during his tenure.”

Under Schelstreet’s leadership, the St. Charles Fire Department has earned national and international accreditation from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International.

The city of St. Charles also was awarded an elite Class 1 Fire Protection rating from the Insurance Services Office, and was named a StormReady community by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration & National Weather Service. The city’s Emergency Management Agency also was accredited through the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

In addition, Schelstreet increased collaboration with neighboring fire departments and emergency services agencies through the nationally accredited Tri-City Ambulance service. And Schelstreet himself earned individual designation as a Chief Fire Officer by the Commission on Professional Credentialing.

Swanson

Assistant Fire Chief Scott Swanson has been named acting fire chief of the department.

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’s degree in Management and Organizational Behavior from Benedictine University in Lisle.

About the City of St. Charles

The city of St. Charles, Illinois, has gained national recognition as a family-friendly town and wide acclaim for its architecture, living up to its nickname Pride of the Fox. Located 35 miles west of Chicago, in Kane County and northwestern DuPage County, St. Charles is home to 33,000 residents and a balanced mix of nearly 2,000 businesses that employ more than 18,000 people.

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