Woman with 16 years experience named next chief of Rockford Fire

Members of the Rockford Board of Fire & Police Commissioners have named a woman with 16 years experience with the Rockford Fire Department as its new chief.

Rebecca Tyo becomes the second woman to become chief in the history of the Rockford Fire Department. She succeeds Michele Pankow , who after serving 32 years with the department and four years as the department's first female chief, left to become the first woman to serve as fire marshal for the state of Illinois.