Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:

Since 1877, the Elgin Fire Department has had 17 fire chiefs. David Schmidt, who was hired onto the Elgin Fire Department in 1989, was sworn in Friday as the latest to hold the position.

More than 100 residents, city officials, police officers, firefighters, retired firefighters, and area firefighters and fire chiefs were on hand for the ceremony at the Centre of Elgin’s Heritage Ballroom.

Schmidt said that while not many things would change for the fire service, he did want to see the department continue embracing and using technology to make the job safer for firefighters and for the community.

“We will continue to be a data-driven fire department, using data for future decisions and continuing the strategic plan we started in 2014. We will continue to pursue and leverage technology and innovations and improve the level of service that we provide in the community,” he said.

He also wants to see the department become more diverse and more reflective of the community served.