Wellington North has a new full-time fire chief.
Jeff Dahms has been hired by the township and will become on April 8 the first-ever full-time chief for the newly amalgamated Wellington North Fire Service.
The fire service blends former fire departments in Arthur and Mount Forest under one service.
Dahms, in a telephone interview with the Advertiser, said he was looking forward to the new position.
“This is a new position,” he said. “We’re going to take it very slowly at the start. It’s going to be a learning curve, [but we have to] put together a plan on how we can best serve the community.”
The new chief has already held an informal meeting with firefighters in what he called a “meet and greet” at the council chamber here.
“Dahms was born and raised in the Walkerton area,” a township press release states. “He began his fire service career at the age of 20 at the Walkerton fire department. He quickly realized his desire to become more involved in the fire service and committed his focus on improving his knowledge and education to serve his community to the best of his ability.
“Jeff started attending the Ontario Fire College where he completed several courses … Jeff was the building inspector and fire prevention officer in Brockton where he realized his passion for the fire service in public education, prevention and administration.”
In 2009 he was hired to the full-time position of fire prevention officer with Saugeen Shores, where he completed his diploma program and became a certified professional fire prevention officer, while continuing to work as a volunteer firefighter in Walkerton. He has been with the Walkerton department for the past 22 years.
He and his wife Lisa have three children and are talking about a potential move to Wellington North.
“We are considering that in the future,” he told the Advertiser. “I don’t think a position like mine can be done from the outside. We want to become members of the community.”
In a press release Dahms stated, “The fire department is a very important part of any community and while respecting the history of both fire stations we will strive to be progressive and create integrity, teamwork, service and continuous improvement.”
The township fire committee received some 32 applications when it advertised the position.
In late February, committee chairman Councillor Mark Goetz told council the applications had been narrowed down to six, with Dahms finally chosen.
Goetz credited the committee and fire officials from surrounding townships with assisting in the selection process.
The position pays between $55,000 and $75,000 annually.JEFF DAHMS
