Wainfleet’s interim fire chief resigns
Wainfleet’s interim fire chief Lee Smith has left the township after just a little more than five months on the job, marking the third chief to leave the position in the last couple of years.
Tuesday was Smith’s last day heading up the all-volunteer fire service.
“It’s for personal reasons that I am leaving,” said Smith, who was hired in early December of last year.
In a letter addressed to firefighters and obtained by The Tribune, Smith said, “At this time, it is with much sadness that I inform you that I have resigned my position as fire chief in Wainfleet.
“Please know the reasons for my resignation have nothing to do with your training or responses on scenes. In fact, I am sincerely impressed with your performance and commitment at numerous calls I have responded to over the last four months. I have gotten to know all of you to some degree and have enjoyed the relationships that I have been fortunate enough to experience here in Wainfleet.”
Smith had replaced platoon chief Shawn Schutten, who was filling in the vacant position after chief Kevin Foster left in September 2017 to take on the deputy chief’s job with the Milton fire department. Foster had been hired in September 2016 to replace longtime Wainfleet firefighter and chief Harry Flagg, who retired.
In his letter, Smith said he wanted Wainfleet firefighters to know he had the deepest respect for their dedication.
“I strongly encourage you to continue on the path we have set in motion toward the pursuit of fire service excellence,” he said.
During an interview Monday, Smith, who started with Niagara Falls Fire Department in 1988, said he hopes firefighters carry on various initiatives started by himself and by Foster.
“They are skilled, enthusiastic and motivated to do really well for the municipality. I think Wainfleet is lucky to have them,” said Smith, who was chief in Niagara Falls from 2006 to 2016 and then worked as a consultant in Niagara.
Wainfleet Volunteer Firefighter Association president Matt DeVries said his members wished Smith would stick around.
“The association and the fire department as a whole really liked the chief, the guys are upset he’s leaving,” said DeVries. “But there’s nothing we can do about it and we’ll continue on doing what we do.”
DeVries said Smith accomplished a lot in his short time with Wainfleet and changing the state of the department.
“We have three new fire trucks, a new fire hall we’re working on and a new recruitment class.”
Wainfleet has 36 volunteer firefighters, and 12 new recruits just started, which DeVries said was a positive.
In March, a report brought forward by Smith saw council approve the hiring of a new deputy chief. Mayor April Jeffs, and Alds. Betty Konc, Terry Gilmore and Richard Dykstra voted in favour of the hiring. Ald Ted Hessels, himself a longtime volunteer firefighter, voted against the motion in early March.
Wainfleet council was set to approve the hiring of another interim chief at a special council meeting Tuesday night.
A release from the township thanked Smith for his efforts in supporting the municipality since December and said he opted to pursue other opportunities.
“During his tenure, Chief Smith spearheaded tangible steps forward for the department, forging strong bonds with Wainfleet firefighters, township staff and myself, and built relationships with fire departments throughout the region,” said Jeffs in the release.
Tuesday morning, before he left, Jeffs said Smith was a really, really great guy who fit in with township staff.
“Myself and others have been supportive of the chief and agreed with the direction he took the fire department.”