The Timmins Fire Department is looking within its ranks for its next chief.
Berny Stansa is set to be appointed as the next fire chief at this week's Timmins council meeting. While there isn't a report on the item, there are motions to appoint Stansa to the top leadership role in the department and Scott Atkinson as deputy fire chief. The appointments have not been approved by council yet.
Stansa has been serving as the acting deputy chief since his predecessor Ellard Beaven retired from the local department earlier this year.
If approved, the new roles for Stansa and Atkinson would be effective on Nov. 1.
In August, current fire chief Tom Laughren announced his retirement. It's effective Oct. 31, 2022.
Laughren started the job in April 2019, when was also appointed as the community emergency management co-ordinator for the City of Timmins. He replaced Norm Beauchamp, who started in October 2017 and resigned in 2019. Before that, the department was led by Mike Pintar.
Laughren is a former Timmins mayor and had over three decades of experience with the Whitney Volunteer Fire Department.
The Timmins fire chief leads the full-time fire station, which includes suppression, prevention and training divisions, as well as six volunteer fire stations.
Timmins council meets at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 13 at city hall. The full agenda is available here.
