Geneva's New Deputy Fire Chief Is Mark Einwich

As Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns said Monday night, it takes a "special breed" of person to be a firefighter. In addition to the whole bravery and intense-desire-to-help-people thing, there's a camaraderie and a mindset and esprit de corps that transcends the usual workplace.

And so it was that, as is tradition, men and women from the Geneva Fire Department filled City Hall on Monday night to honor new Deputy Fire Chief Mark Einwich and Lt. Kevin Swanson, who each took the oath of office.

Einwich, a 20-year member of the department, replaces Deputy Chief, who retired after 30 years of service.

"I’m excited for the position and excited to continue (the tradition set by Spencer,)" he said. "I just want to leave it better than I found it."

Swanson has been a firefighter for 18 years, the past 14 with Geneva. His father is the former fire chief in St. Charles.

"I’ve learned so much since I came here to Geneva, and I am the man I am today because of the men and women I work with and work for," Swanson said.