PEORIA HEIGHTS, Ill. (WMBD) -- The village of Peoria Heights has announced a Hanna City area native as the new interim Fire Chief.

Austin Szentez, 37, has 17 years of firefighting experience with some of his work at the Limestone and East Peoria fire departments, a post on the village's Facebook page said.

The announcement comes about one month after it was announced previous interim Chief Tony Ardis was leaving the department.

"Szentez succeeds Tony Ardis as interim chief, who in turn had replaced Dan Decker in that top job. Both had recommended Szentez for this position, which 'speaks volumes' about his readiness to lead, Mayor Matt Wigginton said in appointing him," the post said.

He will be the fourth fire chief in the last two and a half years and the post said he "looks to break

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