Excerpts from the kcchronicle.com:
St. Charles Fire Chief Joseph Schelstreet
St. Charles Fire Chief Joseph Schelstreet has announced he will retire from his post on Oct. 4 after serving as fire chief since 2013.
He joined the St. Charles Fire Department as a firefighter in 1988 before being promoted to lieutenant in 1992, captain in 1997, and assistant chief in 2003. He served as acting fire chief in 2012 before stepping into the chief role permanently in 2013.
Under Schelstreet’s leadership, the fire department has earned national and international accreditation from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. The City of St. Charles received a Class 1 rating from the Insurance Services Office and was named a StormReady community by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and 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 Tri-City Ambulance Service, and earned individual designation as a Chief Fire Officer by the Commission on Professional Credentialing.
Assistant Fire Chief Scott Swanson has been named acting fire chief.
