Collinsville Fire Department Captain Rick Welle has been officially named the new chief of the Edwardsville Fire Department.  Welle has been serving as the acting fire chief there since April, after the resignation of former chief Brian Wilson.

The Edwardsville City Council approved the decision at its meeting Tuesday night.  Welle has served with Collinsville Fire Department for nearly 29 years, most recently as Shift Commander and the EMS Coordinator.

Welle served as the President of Local 2625 from 1998-2007.  He resigned from the Executive Board to serve as the interim fire chief for Collinsville after the retirement of former chief Jim Twyman.

He has also been the District Three Vice-President for the Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois for the last six years, serving many local affiliates throughout central and southern Illinois.

We certainly wish the best for Chief Welle as he begins his new position.  We at Local 2625 thank him for all his hard work and quality representation as the leader of our affiliate over the years.

Congratulations, Rick!