A new Acting Fire Chief has been named by the Regional District of Central Okanagan to serve residents in the North Westside area.

Effective February 29th, Jason Satterthwaite will take over the Chief’s duties on an interim basis for the paid on-call department serving communities within the North Westside Fire Protection Area. Satterthwaite has been the Deputy Chief since 2014. This interim appointment is required with the resignation of Chief Doug Gardiner who is leaving to pursue an opportunity with the Fraser Valley Regional District.

Gardiner has been Chief of the North Westside department since August 2013.

Regional District Fire and Inspection Services Manager Dan Wildeman says, “Jason’s interim appointment as Acting Chief will ensure that there’s consistency in leadership and training for those paid-on-call fire department members who are committed to serving their community. He played a major role last summer in the department’s response and assistance to Wilson’s Landing fire during the Shelter Cove/Westside Road wildfire. North Westside residents can rest assured that dedicated and trained members of the fire department will continue responding to calls for medical first response and fire emergencies from their neighbours.”

Wildeman adds, “We wish Doug well in his new endeavour and thank him for his leadership over the past three years. He’s helped to raise the department’s membership ranks and expand training opportunities for members of the paid-on-call department and is leaving it in a very good position for the future.”

A formal process to select a new Chief within the North Westside Fire Department will begin soon.