The city of Socorro has hired their first "modern era" fire chief. 

Patrick Kelly, the former fire chief in Tucson, Ariz., has accepted the position with the city of Socorro. 

Kelly was hired after more three dozen applicants from 19 states and Canada applied for the position. He was one of four finalists who spent the last few days interviewing and answering questions from the community. 

The $88,000 contract is the next step in building the city's own fire department, as the city currently depends on a volunteer department in the county's Emergency District 2. 

Kelly will move from Vero Beach, Fla., where he is currently a Columbia Southern University faculty member and a senior consultant for the TriData Corporation. Kelly also served  fire chief in Deland, Fla., and Westchester County, New York. 

Thursday night, Kelly said his first step would be to assess the needs and wants of the community and evaluate the assets available in the city of Socorro. 

His first day on the watch will be Nov. 12.