Management Changes At Western Springs Fire Department

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – A longtime member of the Western Springs Fire Department was promoted to assistant chief this week.

At Monday's Village Board meeting, Capt. Steve Smith was sworn into the assistant chief's position.

Smith has been with the department since 2001, when he graduated from its fire academy.

His public safety career began in 1988 in his hometown of Closter, New Jersey, where he became an emergency medical technician. He moved to Western Springs with his family in 1999.

"During his 22-year career with the Western Springs Fire Department, Steve has been one of the most active and steadfast members of the department," Fire Chief Michael Kelly said at the meeting.

Smith has been in charge of outfitting members with personal protective equipment, running the pump-testing program and training members to drive the department's vehicles, among other things.

For his full-time job, Smith is the multi-site director of patient safety for Advocate Aurora Health.

Also on Monday, Lt. Karl Hammond was promoted to captain.