The city of Austin has sworn in its new fire chief Monday morning. Joel Baker was sworn in Monday, December 10, during a ceremony at city hall. Baker is the city's first African-American chief to lead the department. He is a native of Atlanta, Georgia where he previously served as the fire chief. Baker is taking over for former fire chief Rhoda Mae Kerr who retired from AFD over the summer. She became the chief for Ft. Lauderdale earlier this year.