A new year means a new fire chief and a hole to fill for the Oak Bay Fire Department.
The district named current Assistant Fire Chief Darren Lee for the role of Deputy Fire Chief effective Feb. 1, 2019. Lee began in the fire service with the North Cowichan Fire Department before moving to the Surrey Fire Service where he spent 10 years before moving to West Kelowna as an assistant chief. Lee came to Oak Bay in May as an assistant fire chief.
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“Darren has made a significant impression upon the fire department and community since arriving. The fire department and citizens of Oak Bay are going to benefit tremendously from his expertise and commitment,” said Oak Bay Fire Chief Dave Cockle. Cockle retires at the same time and Deputy Chief Darren Hughes will fill that role leaving the opening for Lee.
Lee is an adjunct trainer with the Justice Institute of British Columbia and the College of the Rockies. He has significant experience in emergency management and wildland firefighting and was deployed to multiple locations in B.C. during the recent fires. He holds a Bachelor of Fire and Safety Studies through the Justice Institute of British Columbia and the University of Victoria.
“On behalf of council I would like to thank Chief Cockle for his efforts on attracting talent like Darren to Oak Bay,” said Mayor Kevin Murdoch. “Our community will continue to be well served by our excellent fire department. We are so pleased that Deputy Chief Lee has joined us here in Oak Bay.”
c.vanreeuwyk@blackpress.ca
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