The Municipality of Kincardine has appointed a new interim Fire Chief who is also the current President of the Firefighters Association of Ontario.
Kevin McNeilly officially assume his new duties on Thursday, February 20, 2020.
Acting Fire Chief Ron Simmons is returning to his position as Deputy Chief.
McNeilly has 25 years of experience in fire services.
He formerly held the position of Division Chief of Training & Development for the City of Brampton Fire and Emergency Services, and Deputy Fire Chief for the Town of Bracebridge.
McNeilly will still hold his current position as Fire Chief for the Grand Valley & District Fire Department and will continue in that role while the search for a new Fire Chief is being undertaken.
In December the Municipality confirmed former Fire Chief Kent Padfield was put on administrative leave of absence to allow for a fair and thorough independent workplace health & safety investigation regarding a October 24, 2019 incident in involving a fire vehicle.
In addition, Deputy Chief Mike Moore had also been placed on administrative leave pending the completion of the internal investigation.
Two firefighters were subsequently charged with Highway Traffic Act offences, after police say a fire truck had left the roadway, and rolled onto its side in a ditch.
*Retraction as of Feb 25, 2020 – a previous version of the article incorrectly stated former Chief Kent Padfield had been charged with a Highway Traffic Act offence which was not correct.