Stratton sworn in as Plainfield fire chief

Jon Stratton, the new Plainfield Fire Protection District chief, was officially sworn in to replace David Riddle on Tuesday at the district headquarters with the assistance of his wife.

Stratton was named the new chief after Riddle announced his retirement from the job last month in his regular newsletter to district residents.

Stratton previously served as deputy chief since 2005 and has been with the Plainfield Fire Protection District since 1994. At the ceremony he talked about the number of his family members, including his father, who worked in the fire service industry.

Several members of the fire protection district, Plainfield Police Department, village and other local officials were in attendance to see Stratton sworn in. He recognized Plainfield Police Chief John Konopek and lauded the working relationship between the two departments.

“I’m looking around the room right now and I’m just humbled and honored to be able to serve everyone here in the Plainfield Fire District and the surrounding areas,” Stratton said.

Riddle became fire chief in January 2015, according to his LinkedIn profile. Before that, he served in the district as deputy chief starting in March 2012 and had more than 40 years of experience in fire service overall.

Stratton will be the ninth chief of the district going back to 1935.

The Plainfield Fire Protection District operates four stations in the village of more than 40,000 residents.