The Delta Fire Department has undergone a bit of a changing of the guard.
Deputy Chief Robin Cullen retired last January and deputy Chief Ken Sim followed suit last month, retiring after 36 years with the department.
In their place, two new deputies - Brad Wilson and Guy McKintuck - have taken over.
Inspired to go into firefighting by his older brother, Sim was hired by Delta in 1980.
"He was a Surrey firefighter and four years later I became a Delta firefighter," said Sim, who, at 22, was one of the youngest hired at the time as the department opened Hall 5 in Sunshine Hills.
"I was very fortunate," he said. "It was a very busy time."
Sim was a firefighter for more than 20 years before being promoted to lieutenant and then captain. He became a deputy chief six years ago after 30 years with the department.
"It was time to pass the torch to these guys," he said.
Wilson replaces Sim as deputy chief of operations, while McKintuck has taken over fire prevention.
Both have been with the department for more than 20 years. Wilson is a second generation firefighter whose brother went into firefighting as well.
"It's just something I always wanted to do," he said. Wilson spent close to 20 years as a firefighter before becoming a lieutenant and
then a captain. He has also been involved with the firefighters' union for several
years and was president for six years before taking on his new management position.
Wilson said it was a big transition moving into the role but the department has really good union/management relations.
McKintuck joined the department in 1993. In addition to firefighting, he spent a few years in emergency planning and the training division.
He started taking fire executive management courses at BCIT four years ago and was promoted to deputy chief just before Christmas.
McKintuck worked as a forest firefighter when he was a student at the University of Victoria and was inspired to make firefighting a career after seeing his brother-in-law's work with the Oak Bay fire department.
As part of his portfolio, McKintuck oversees building inspections, fire permits and public education.
