DeKALB | After enjoying 22 years as a DeKalb fire fighter, Scott Love was a bit startled to be offered the vacant position of assistant fire chief.

Love served as a captain prior to his promotion, with duties that included acting as a shift commander and a training officer. Love’s duties as assistant chief will include more administrative responsibilities, said DeKalb Fire Chief Lanny Russell.

“He’s been involved in the operations for a long time and we certainly want to use the talents that he’s got there,” Russell said of Love.

Love will oversee several operations in the department, including public education on fire prevention as well as safety for lighting and fire systems installed in new buildings.

“If somebody would’ve asked me 20 years ago, I would’ve chuckled and said I’m pretty happy doing what I’m doing,” Love said.

Love said the administrative side of his new position will be the most challenging part.

“As a firefighter, you’re so used to emergency responses and you get comfortable doing that,” Love said. “Moving from that arena to the administrative realm is really new to me.”

The DeKalb city manager selects the assistant fire chief based on a recommendation from the fire chief, Russell said.

The fire department also promoted Greg Hoyle to the position of captain to fill Love’s vacancy, and promoted Reid Rissman to lieutenant to fill the role vacated by Hoyle, Russell said.

Russell said the department expects to hire an additional firefighter and there is the possibility for other retirements in the near future, which will prompt the filling of similar vacancies.

“It’s a time of transition,” Russell said. “We’ve become a much younger department.”