Olds has new fire chief -- again

Newly hired Olds fire chief and local resident Justin Andrew says it's too early to say what his priorities will be specifically, but his overall goal is to keep the department strong and improve communications with the community.

He says the volunteer fire department currently has 36 members and he'd like to build that back up to the normal goal of 40.

Andrew, 39, was born and raised in Olds. He has been a volunteer member of Olds Fire Department since 1996.

His appointment was announced by the town last week. He starts his new job Feb. 5. It's the second time since September that the town has hired a new fire chief, and just over a month after the previous one resigned.

Andrew replaces Mike Hoffman, who was hired as fire chief last September, but resigned on Dec. 4, effective immediately.

Hoffman was hired to replace former fire chief Lorne Thompson. He and the town parted ways last spring. Thompson had been the town's fire chief for 13 years.

For the second time in less than a year, Scott Chant, a captain with the fire department, filled in as acting fire chief until Andrew was chosen.

Up until now, Andrew's full-time job has been with Red Deer Emergency Services (RDES). He has worked there as a firefighter-paramedic since 2002.

During his career there, Andrew rose through the ranks, including an eight-month special assignment as an assistant deputy chief. He will retire from RDES as a lieutenant.

"I've been a volunteer member for 22 years," Andrew told the Albertan. "I have a strong family commitment and presence in Olds, and it's a great opportunity to expand professionally and give back to the people that I've enjoyed working for and with for those 22 years.

"It's my goal to help the members enhance their own professional skills and service and just be a good community advocate and communications builder between the department, the elected officials and the citizens."

Andrew has served as the department's training officer for the past nine years. During the past year, he has also served as safety codes officer, conducting fire inspections in Olds and Mountain View County.

"Mr. Andrew is an experienced fire services educator and played an integral role in the fundraising and construction of the fire training grounds in Olds," a town news release said.

Andrew said he'll be looking for someone to replace him as training officer. He doesn't think that will be a problem because he said there are several enthusiastic members of the department willing to take on that role.

Town chief administrative officer Michael Merritt said the fact Andrew was born and raised in the community, still lives here and volunteers in various ways is a big asset.

"Basically it's I think beneficial that he is local and understands the community and the people," Merritt said. "He has worked in the fire department for many years, so he's familiar with the operations of the department, so that's going to be quite beneficial.

"It was basically the best qualified individual to come in and to do the job. But it certainly works well for us I think and for him that he is a well established local individual who understands the community and will be able to have a tremendous community outreach."

When he isn't working or teaching fire services courses, Andrew can often be found volunteering at community events with his wife Monica and their three children.

Andrew was asked if taking on the role of fire chief will mean less time spent with family. He figures the opposite will be the case.

"By making this move, the Red Deer portion disappears and so I can focus solely on my position in Olds," he said.

"There's no less desire of engagement and being dedicated, but when you take one of those major things off the plate, I'm hoping that this will give me more time to spend with my family in my community, because 16 years in Red Deer working shift work, you miss an awful lot of birthdays and Christmases and hockey games, piano recitals. So that's one of the major draws to working in your home community."

Andrew won't miss the commute to and from Red Deer either.

"I look at it and for 16 years, I spent on average eight hours a week commuting between Olds and Red Deer for work, so that's a lot of time," he said.