HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-07-25, Page 13THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2013. PAGE 13. Blyth’s Sparling named new FDNH fire chief
In for life
The Blyth Lions Club recently presented Braxton McKee,
centre, with a life membership certificate to the Lions
Foundation of Canada. Rather than accepting gifts for his
12th birthday, McKee asked his friends to donate to the
Lions’ guide dog program, raising $100 dollars, which was
forwarded by the local club to the dog guide school in
Oakville. Presenting McKee with his certificate are Past
District Governor John Stewart, left, and Lion Gord
Jenkins, right. (Photo submitted)
Blyth resident and Fire
Department of North Huron (FDNH)
Deputy-Chief David Sparling will be
switching careers as he takes over as
chief of the fire department next
month.
Sparling recently tendered his
resignation at Sparling’s Propane,
which was recently bought by
Parkland Fuel Corporation, and will
be starting as the full-time fire chief
for North Huron in mid-August.
Sparling, who was the acting
principal of the Emergency Services
Training Centre (ESTC) in Blyth,
and Acting Chief Keith Hodgkinson
had split the duties of the chief
position after the passing of FDNH
Fire Chief John Black in early 2012.
Prior to that, both had been named
deputy-chief of the department when
it was created in 2009. Sparling
handled administration while
Hodgkinson handled operations.
Sparling explained that, earlier
this month, he was faced with a
career choice. He could either
continue with Parkland Fuel
Corporation, the company that had
bought Sparling’s Propane, or
pursue the career as the fire chief.
“I was offered a promotion with
Parkland but it meant more travel
than what my family wanted,”
Sparling said, adding that the
announcement of his resignation
from Sparling’s and promotion to
chief were announced to both the
propane company and fire
department last week.
“This way I can stay in the area
and do something I enjoy,” he said,
adding that it’s something he’s
considered for a long time. “It’s an
opportunity that I always thought I
would pursue.”
Sparling’s new role will have him
primarily working for the Fire
Department of North Huron and also
helping to run the ESTC in Blyth as
its principal.
“Most of the work I do is fire
department-related,” he said. “But I
do some work for the ESTC as well.
There are some exciting things going
on there right now.”Sparling was chosen by a selectionpanel chosen by Tiny Township Fire
Chief Tony Mintoff, a consultant
hired by North Huron, to help
replace Black after his passing due
to cancer last year.
Mintoff was also a member on the
selection panel.
North Huron Chief Administrative
Officer Gary Long stated, in a memo
to firefighters and other staff, that the
committee conducted two rounds of
interviews including “detailed and
challenging questions” and that
Sparling was the succesful
candidate.
Sparling said that while no one
could replace Black, he was glad he
was chosen because it meant some
degree of stability in the planning.
“This means that the direction we
were going is going to continue,” he
said. “John laid the foundation and
we’re just going to keep building
from there.”
He also stated that he plans to
continue with Black’s plan with very
little deviation.
Sparling said a lot of the work to
continue John’s efforts was done for
him by Hodgkinson, who will
remain with the department as a
deputy-chief according to Long.
“Keith has done a great job for 15
months, since John’s passing,”
Sparling said.
“Keith really stepped up when we
needed it most and has done anadmirable job as the acting chiefsince April 2012,” Long said. “It’s
hard to believe it was that long ago
because Keith has kept everything
running so smoothly. He will
certainly be formally thanked and
recognized.”
Sparling joined the Blyth Fire
Department in 1992 and has been
promoted several times, eventually
being named captain before theamalgamation and his promotion todeputy-chief.
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New fire chief
After a months-long process, David Sparling, who has been
a deputy-fire chief in the Fire Department of North Huron
since 2009, will take over the role of chief in the
organization in mid-August. (Photo submitted)
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