Otonabee South Monaghan Fire Chief Retires After 47 Year Career

Otonabee South Monaghan (OSM) Fire Chief Ted Bryan will officially retire at the end of January, after a 47 year career with the fire department.

Fire Chief Ted Bryan and Fire Prevention Officer Cara Wood. Bryan says FPO Wood made his job a lot easier. Photo courtesy of OSM.

Looking back on his career Bryan says it’s hard to sum up 47 years of experience.

Bryan joined the volunteer fire department in 1975 when he graduated high school. He became chief in 1986, which became his full-time career in 1997 when the Otonabee department amalgamated with South Monaghan.

“When I started I was the chief of the station in Keene and I had maybe 18 firefighters,” he said. “Today we have four fire stations and 82 members.”

Bryan notes that over the course of his almost 50 year career the training available to firefighters has changed immensely.

“The evolution in the fire services - it went from being handed a hat, a pitch coat and a pair of long rubber boots, being told ‘here you’re going to fight fires for us when the siren goes off’ to volunteer firefighters in todays world being certified, full fledged firefighters.”

When a recruit joins the volunteer fire department they attend training at The Eastern Ontario Emergency Training Academy (EOETA) in Norwood. There they receive the same certifications needed to pursue a full time firefighting career.

“It’s so exciting to watch new recruits come on and grow with the department, then one day tell you they’ve gotten a full time fire job elsewhere. It’s heart warming to see that, a very satisfying part of the job.”

In his retirement Bryan says he will continue to teach at the EOETA, The Ontario Fire College and at Fleming College in their Pre-Service Firefighting program.

“I’m looking forward to being able to decompress and maybe sit at the end of my dock for a little bit.”

Bryan says he will miss the people he works with the most.

“To say you don’t have any issues with 82 people wouldn’t be telling the truth, but certainly we’re a good group and we see each others differences,” he says. “They’re wonderful to work with, as well as the council and management here in the township.”

Chuck Parsons will be taking over as Fire Chief of OSM, effective Feb. 1.

“I am excited to be joining the Township of Otonabee South-Monaghan team and working with Council, Volunteer Fire Fighters, Staff and the Community including Hiawatha First Nation in this role,” said Parsons. “The Municipality of Otonabee South-Monaghan is vibrant and receptive and I welcome the opportunity to live and work in the area and continue the excellent leadership provided to the Municipal Fire and Emergency Services for the benefit of the township’s citizens and businesses”

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