Didsbury fire Chief Craig Martin has left the department effective immediately, he said Monday.
He has been the chief in Didsbury for the past three years.
“I have not renewed my contract,” said Martin. “My three-year contract has come to an end and I have decided not to renew my contract. It’s a three-year contract and I’ve decided not to sign an extension. I am no longer with the fire department effective today.”
Asked if he could say why he decided not to renew his contract, he said, “Not at this time.”
His resignation comes after more than a dozen volunteer firefighters resigned in recent months citing “safety concerns.”
The Town of Didsbury hired Caliber Planning Inc. to conduct an assessment of the department in early June in response to letters of concern submitted by 16 department members.
The assessment report recommended retaining Martin as fire chief.
Since then, the town has initiated a safety audit of the department and acted on several of the report’s recommendations.
Attempts to reach Mayor Rhonda Hunter for comment were not successful at press time Monday.
- with files from Lea Smaldon
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