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

That came after the borough council, on a 4-0 vote at a special meeting Monday morning, appointed Michael Mriss to the post, effective immediately.

Mriss is the brother of Fire Chief Patrick Mriss, who was appointed to the top position effective Dec. 31, following the November resignation of Fire Chief Gary Frable that took effect at the start of the year. Frable had held the post since May 9, 2011, when he took over for Fire Chief John Kuller, who passed away on April 22, 2011.