The District of Taylor has a new deputy fire chief and it’s a person familiar to the region’s firefighting community.
Kristine Doerksen, who served for close to five years with the North Peace Regional Airport brigade and has been a lieutenant with Taylor Fire Rescue since 2018, has accepted the position.
“I’ve been working on some course work and experience to get to a deputy position. It came sooner than I had anticipated but I will take an opportunity when it strikes,” said Doerksen.
“I really love the community of Taylor and being a part of it and being a deputy fire chief is an absolute honour of mine.”
Between the airport, Taylor and Chase, near Salmon Arm, where she was a captain and training officer, Doerksen figures she’s acquired nearly 15 years of experience – her new role left vacant by the departure of former deputy Kevin Holder.
“Besides the course work, Chief (Steve) Byford has been mentoring me along the way.”
Her decision, though, she concedes was made easier by the core of volunteers already in place inside the fire hall.
“You know, we have a great group of folks that have been working together for as long as I’ve been here since 2008.”
While familiar with the day-to-day operations, having been a volunteer for some 14 years, she also welcomes the challenges to come.
“It’s a new day everyday,” she added.
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