Sarnia adding second deputy fire chief

Sarnia is getting a second deputy fire chief.

Doubling the service’s deputies is one of the recommendations in the city’s 10-year fire master plan from 2020.

Dale Gartshore, now an acting platoon chief, takes on the role effective Aug. 28, the city recently announced.

As part of his new job, Gartshore will be the city’s community emergency management coordinator, a release said.

Ron Realesmith, Sarnia’s former community emergency management coordinator, said he was terminated by the city in July.

Fire Chief Bryan Van Gaver took over interim community emergency management coordinator duties, Realesmith said.

“They made a decision that they wanted fire to occupy the position,” he said, adding he was told he was “redundant.”

Realesmith also said he’s “starting to litigate.”

How Gartshore and Deputy Fire Chief Ken Dwinnell will split duties hasn’t been discussed, Dwinnell said.

Van Gaver in July also announced retirement plans for March.

The intention is to continue indefinitely with two deputy fire chiefs, Dwinnell said.

Dwinnell said he doesn’t know why Sarnia decided to shift emergency management coordination to fire services, deferring to Van Gaver.

City spokesperson Steve Henschel said in an email Aug. 21 to Postmedia, which was also sent to Van Gaver, the move better reflects the needs and goals of emergency management within the organization.

“Given fire’s mandate as it relates to emergency response, emergency management is a logical fit. The move allows the city to capitalize on pre-existing skills, operational efficiencies, and Sarnia fire rescue’s established relationships with other emergency response organizations,” Henschel wrote.

In addition to emergency management coordination, the new deputy chief will also assist in daily operations and contribute to organizational decision-making, Henschel said.

Gartshore has “been a central figure at Sarnia Fire Rescue who has consistently stepped up to serve the community,” Van Gaver said in the news release, adding Gartshore’s “skills, leadership and experience will enhance day to day operations and provide critical strategic leadership as the community emergency management coordinator, helping to clearly define roles and responsibilities across city agencies and partnerships, fostering enhanced cooperation and coordination.”

The role involves “reviewing and improving municipal emergency planning. . . enhancing inter-agency coordination, and creating clearly defined procedures to ensure effective delivery of emergency services and supports,” the release said.

Gartshore is pursuing a master’s degree in public administration at Western University this fall, and has qualifications in emergency management, incident command and fire service leadership.

“Serving this community has always been a driving factor in my career and I am looking forward to taking on this next step and continuing that service, ensuring our community is prepared for any challenges in the future,” he said in the release.

-with files from Terry Bridge