Lehighton has filled the ranks of its fire department with the selection of a new assistant fire chief.

That came after borough council, on a 4-0 vote at a special meeting Monday morning, appointed Michael Mriss to the post, effective immediately.Councilmen Scott Rehrig, John Kreitz, Joe Flickinger, and council President Grant Hunsicker were in favor. Council members Darryl Arner, Bessie Bauchspies and Helen Torok were absent.Mriss is the brother of borough Fire Chief Patrick Mriss, who was appointed as the borough's new fire chief, effective Dec. 31.In November, council agreed to advertise for an assistant fire chief internally after it appointed Patrick Mriss as fire chief. Before his promotion, Patrick Mriss had served as assistant fire chief.Last month, council announced that two candidates had applied for the assistant fire chief position. The candidates were Michael Mriss and Douglas Nothstein.The candidates were interviewed by borough Manager Nicole Beckett and Kreitz.In November, council accepted the resignation of former borough Fire Chief Gary Frable, effective Jan. 1.Frable was appointed chief on May 9, 2011, and took over the position from former Fire Chief John "Jack" Kuller, who passed away on April 22, 2011.Frable had served as assistant chief under Kuller from 2002 until his ascension to the top post.