As the deputy chief of the Vancouver Fire Department, Wade Pierlot has seen plenty of action in one of Canada's biggest cities.
In the past few years, Pierlot was the face of the fire service to respond to the impacts of the closure of the Kitsilano Coast Guard base. He was also in the limelight to answer questions about the Stanley Cup riots. And he was part of the emergency operations team for the 2010 Olympics.
Now, Pierlot is taking over a fire department in a community one-fifth of the size of Vancouver but with the same big-city problems.
On Friday, Coquitlam Fire Chief Tony Delmonico retires and leaves the crew he has overseen for five years in the hands of Pierlot.
"There's certainly a lot of comfort there in having someone so capable in your place," Delmonico said of Pierlot. "He has a great reputation and the operational experience he brings is second to none."
The rapidly growing neighbourhoods on Burke Mountain and in south Coquitlam are on the radar for Pierlot, a Langley township resident who is expected to end his 32-year career in Coquitlam in three to five years.
The Evergreen Line, due to be built by the summer of 2016, and the ongoing construction of highrises are also issues for the fire service that employs 183 staff (156 of them firefighters) and manages an annual operations budget of $22 million - versus $90 million in Vancouver.
Coquitlam, Pierlot said, "is progressive and expanding. There is some big city stuff happening here but just on a smaller scale."
Pierlot, 53, said he'll continue the course set by Delmonico, who during his tenure brought in more firefighters and vehicles. Coquitlam "is a very well-run fire service" that has a good relationship with the city and labour union, he said. "It's exciting to be part of a service that's excelling."
Meanwhile, Delmonico plans to carry on with the BC Forest Service as a sprinkler protection specialist during the summer months.
He replaced Gord Buchanan, who also retired after five years at the head of the department. Pierlot was one of four fire officers shortlisted for the top job out of more than 30 candidates.
