Chatham-Kent's newest assistant fire chief has only been in his new role for a week, but he says he's been having a blast so far in his new home.
"It's a fantastic place," says Chris Case. "Lovely people, it's a beautiful part of the world and I've yet to find anything that makes me think I've done the wrong thing."
Case comes to Chatham-Kent after serving various roles within the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service in the United Kingdom. For the last ten years, he's also served as an instructor at the UK Fire Service College, teaching about hazardous materials and explosives.
Based on his resume, this appears to be the new assistant chief's area of expertise. He has a Masters of Science in Explosives, Chemistry and Theory, serving as a visiting lecturer on the subject in universities across the UK. He also played a major role in creating the first joint police, military and fire service task force, handling arson and explosives situations across the pond.
"It was all very much about bringing agencies together. So yes, it was around explosives and terrorism and other interesting incidents, but it was very much about getting partners to work together, share information and make life better in our communities. That's what I hope to bring to the new role," says Case.
Case's first day was May 9. He adds his former colleagues back home have already expressed interest in comparing notes about how CK emergency crews handle situations here in Canada.
