Brent Baker’s time as Tofino’s Fire Chief and Manager of Protective Services has come to an end.
“The District has started the recruitment process for a dedicated Fire Chief, and in the interim Bylaw Services is reporting directly to the Director of Community Services,” the District of Tofino wrote in an emailed statement to the Westerly News.
“Acting Fire Chief Emily Coombs has been appointed to this role to ensure there is no disruption to service and the District is grateful for her dedication. Brent Baker is no longer employed with the District of Tofino. The District thanks him for his contributions to our community and wishes him the best in his future endeavours.”
Baker suggested his departure was associated with changes being made to the district’s protective services department.
“Seems to be significant budget reduction with a potential reduction in bylaw staff and the fire chief position being reduced to a four-day-a-week position. I am concerned about how the changes may affect the level of service to the community and the safety for the bylaw staff that have a very challenging job with the resources they had,” he told the Westerly in a statement via Facebook Messenger.
“The Bylaw team are incredibly hardworking and do everything they can for the residents and our visitors every day.”
He also expressed confidence in the fire department’s ability to move forward with its passionate and dedicated crew.
“Leaving the Tofino Volunteer Fire Department is not easy, however during the 10 years that I was privileged to serve as a volunteer and then the Chief we have, as a team, developed a very strong leadership group that is highly skilled and dedicated,” he said.
“I have full confidence that they will grow even stronger through this experience and continue to be the largest and most hardworking group of volunteers in our community. Each and every one of them is a Small Town Hero and deserves the full support of the community and the District of Tofino as they put both their physical and mental health on the line every day.”
andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
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