Fire Chief Stephen Hernen re-elected as President of the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs

Huntsville’s Fire Chief and Director of Operations and Protective Services, Stephen Hernen, has been elected president of the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs (OAFC) for a second year. He is the first president of the OAFC to represent a volunteer force.

According to the OAFC website, the Association represents 449 municipal, unorganized, and First Nations fire departments across Ontario and is the voice of the fire service when dealing with government on policy decisions.

Hernen says his presidency is good for Huntsville. “This is good for Huntsville because we are in the mix of what’s going on. Although I am representing the Ontario Fire Service I have my roots in Huntsville.” As well, he says, “We are at the forefront of the issues and we are in the Minister’s office where I can reach out to the Minister [of Community Safety and Correctional Services] on issues beyond fire.”

Hernen admits that he has heard rumblings in the community about his being president of an Ontario-wide association and that it could be taking away from his duties within the Town. That is not the case, says Hernen. “A lot of our stuff is done through teleconference, and on evenings and weekends. Because all the associations are run by volunteers, we do a lot of work on weekends. When I can’t do it on weekends, I am taking holiday time. It does not affect the Town of Huntsville.”

Any cost associated with attending conferences and seminars are picked up by the association. “Any time I go to any conference or seminar, any learning session, even if I am going as the Huntsville fire chief, the board pays full costs,” added Hernen.

In his first year as president the association rewrote its strategic plan. This year Hernen says his job is to get it working. “We are doing a lot of work with the minister’s office right now on fire safety techniques, and rewriting the Fire Prevention and Protection Act,” Hernen said.

“I’ve actually seen the chief in action as the President of the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs and it’s impressive. He advocates on behalf of fire safety around the province and this is an organization that actually affects real change in saving people’s lives,” said Huntsville Mayor Scott Aitchison at Huntsville’s May 23 council meeting. “I am really proud of what the chief is doing and it puts Huntsville in a pretty good light.”

Don’t miss out on Doppler! Sign up for our free, twice-weekly newsletter here.