Sarnia is looking for a new deputy fire chief.
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In an emailed statement, Dale Gartshore, who took on the role that includes emergency management co-ordination for the city about a year ago, said stepping back is a personal decision.
“Ultimately this was a decision based on responsibilities I have to my family,” he said. “It was a difficult choice, and I will certainly miss the time I spent working to improve emergency response planning at the city.”
Gartshore will continue serving as a member of the Sarnia Fire Rescue Service, the city’s Steve Henschel said.
“This was a personal decision on behalf of Dale and we’d like to thank him for all the work he has done on the emergency management file,” he emailed.
Fire Chief Jeff Weber will be acting community emergency management co-ordinator as the city recruits a replacement, he said.
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Gartshore’s position was posted earlier this week.
Sarnia has two deputy fire chiefs.
Gartshore, formerly a Sarnia Fire platoon chief, was the first to hold the second deputy position.
Adding a second deputy position was one recommendation of the city’s 10-year fire master plan in 2020.
Sarnia moved emergency management from a standalone position at city hall to the city’s fire service last yearafter parting ways with former community emergency management co-ordinator Ron Realesmith.
Local emergency notification processes recently came under fire after St. Clair Township Mayor Jeff Agar called for investigations after a diesel spill into the St. Clair River.
Hagar said he wasn’t notified of the spill via local emergency systems.
A handful of properties that take water from the river were notified by public health not to use their water for several days, and people were told to avoid swimming in the river.
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