URBANA, Ill. (WAND) - Urbana City Council unanimously approved the appointment of an interim fire chief during a special meeting Monday night.

Deputy Chief Tal Prendergast will become the interim chief effective immediately.

Prendergast was appointed to serve in the role until June 5, 2026. He could be re-appointed after that date.

In October, Chief Demond Dade announced his resignation . The City of Urbana made the announcement but did not say why Dade abruptly resigned. He had been in the position since May 2022.

Prendergast and Deputy Chief Steven Doggett had been leading the department since Dade's resignation, the City previously said.

Following the appointment, the Urbana Fire Department shared on Facebook that Prendergast has 29 years of fire service experience, including 1

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