AUBURN — Longtime Deputy Fire Chief Geoff Low is now permanent fire chief, City Manager Howard Kroll announced Friday.

Low, of Minot, was named acting chief in April when Chief Frank Roma’s job was eliminated. That was part of Kroll’s proposed budget cuts that kicked off the City Council’s budget review.

Kroll announced the promotion Friday, the first day of the city’s 2016-17 fiscal year.

Low joined the the Fire Department in 1994, starting as a paramedic. He progressed through the ranks and served as the city’s assistant chief of EMS Services, the acting fire chief and deputy fire chief.

He has an associate degree in applied science, a bachelor’s degree in fire science and a master’s degree in business administration with a minor in public administration from Columbia Southern University.

He is working to complete the Executive Officer Program at the National Fire Academy.