There is a new face at the head of Linton Fire Department as a new chief was sworn in Friday.

Colton Murray, a six-year veteran of the LFD was sworn in as the department’s new chief Friday by Linton Mayor John Wilkes.

“I’m really excited,” Murray said of the promotion.

One of the best parts of the job for Murray is being there to help the community he grew up in.

“I really enjoy knowing I’m here to help people whether it’s the medical side or fire side,” he said.

The Linton Fire Department not only operates a fire department but also an ambulance. The department acts as a back-up for the Greene County Ambulance Department’s Linton location — located on the campus of Greene County General Hospital.

The department averages 1,200 runs a year with two-thirds of those runs medical.

Another important part of the job for Murray is staying active in the community.

“I feel like we have a strong support system with the community and city hall,” Murray said.

The department is active in parades and community events such as National Night Out and Spookfest. They also host field trips and visit the school and local preschools to talk about fire safety.

“We want the community behind us so we want to support them,” Murray said.

As far as goals for his new role, Murray wants to continue working in the community ensuring the residents know the LFD is there to serve and protect them.

“When I’m done, I want to feel like I’ve left it (the department) better than it was when I came,” he said. “I want to make the guys better men. I want to lead by example — learn from them and them learn from me.”

Murray and his wife, Jannae, have two children, Blair and Brooks.