The Cariboo Regional District (CRD) have appointed two new fire chiefs in the South Cariboo, although they have yet to do so with one.
In a press release put out on May 21, the CRD said, as part of a region-wide appointment of fire chiefs, that they have hired Glenn Hiltz as the new Fire Chief for the Deka Lake Volunteer Fire Department, and Eric Herl as the new chief of the Lac La Hache Volunteer Fire Department. Incumbent fire chiefs Jon Grieve of the Lone Butte Volunteer Fire Department, as well as Chris Haddad of the 108 Mile Volunteer Fire Department, remain in their roles.
The CRD said that “a call for applications was put to each department's members following the expiry of the three-year term for their respective Fire Chiefs” and that the appointment is a “long-established practice for the CRD's volunteer fire departments.”
The Forest Grove Volunteer Fire Department, however, had yet to have a fire chief appointed, something which Roger Hollander, the regional fire chief for the CRD, said he could not get into the specifics of why it has taken longer for them to find one.
“You can't get into specifics and details on HR issues, as you can imagine. So every fire department there has applications for the position or don't. In this particular case, we are still conducting interviews,” Hollander said, adding that hopefully, the Forest Grove VFD will have a candidate suitable for the position.
Hollander also said that Julie Machado, who had been the fire chief of the Lac La Hache VFD prior to Herl taking over, had been hired for a temporary position.
“Her term was, it was exactly that temporary position to fill in for the late Terry Murphy, who passed away,” Hollander said.
The fire chiefs will be in their positions until 2028, when the three-year term will expire. The CRD says they thank all outgoing fire chiefs for their dedication and service, and look forward to “working with the newly appointed leadership to continue strengthening fire protection in our communities.”
