Steve Lewis has been sworn in as the new fire chief of the Newport Beach (Calif.) Fire Department. The ceremony took place Nov. 27 before a full house of uniformed firefighters and city officials at Newport Beach City Council chambers.

Selected from a pool of 65 applicants, Lewis previously had served for nearly 20 years with the Long Beach (Calif.) Fire Department, most recently as deputy fire chief. He will be the 6th chief of the Newport Beach department, which formed in 1927.

Lewis succeeds Fire Chief Tim Riley, who is retiring after 15 years as head of the Newport Beach department.