Mayor Names Rick Daly New Fire Chief

Rick Daly was named Interim Fire Chief for St. Charles Sept. 11; less than a month later, the city council approved his appointment as Fire Chief. 

Daly is expected to be sworn in as fire chief Nov. 6. His starting salary will be $120,000.

Former Fire Chief Ernie Rhoads, who served as chief for nine years in St. Charles, resigned in September after he was hired as head of West County EMS and Fire Department.

Daly has worked for the St. Charles Fire Department for 31 years, the last 16 as deputy chief in charge of operations. Daly previously said that he would take time to consider whether he wanted to apply for the fulltime fire chief job. 

Mayor Sally Faith said in September that the city would wait to start a search for a new fire chief until after the search for the police chief was completed. 

“We are fortunate here in the city of St. Charles to have someone of Rick’s background and experience on board and ready to assume this important leadership position,” said Faith in a press release.  “The caliber of his professional expertise makes him the perfect choice to serve in the capacity of Fire Chief for the City of St. Charles. We could not be happier that Fire Chief Daly has accepted this new assignment without hesitation, and has already hit the ground running."