The Township of Lanark Highlands has announced Stephen Rothwell as the new fire chief, effective Feb. 16.
“Rothwell brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and education from his 13 years on the Lanark Highlands Fire Service as a junior firefighter, volunteer firefighter and station captain, in addition to his most recent position as the deputy fire chief — training and prevention,” said the township in a release. “During his tenure, he has provided a dedicated service to the community and is a leader in positive forward-thinking.”
Rothwell’s qualifications acquired though his education and training from the National Fire Protection Association, inclusive knowledge of fire safety, fire training and suppression techniques, methods and practices, and firsthand attendance at fire calls have prepared him for the ability to serve in the position.
Rothwell, comfortable in a municipal government leadership role, has held the position of public works manager at the Township of Montague since 2020.
In that role, Rothwell was responsible for the overall operations of the department, including: proper service delivery; long-term operational and capital plans; maintenance and repair of roads, bridges and other assets; ensuring adherence to and compliance with legislative and regulatory standards for the maintenance and construction of roads and structures; and human resources. Prior to that, Rothwell held other leadership and supervisory positions related to project management in the construction industry.
The fire chief is responsible for the overall management and operation of the volunteer fire department, including fire prevention, fire suppression, emergency response, training, fire code enforcement and public education/community relations according to the policies and procedures adopted by council and consistent with the provisions contained within the Ontario Fire Protection and Prevention Act. The fire chief provides leadership and technical expertise regarding the development and implementation of service levels, policies and long-range strategies, operating and capital budgets.
“Council and staff are pleased to welcome Mr. Rothwell as the new fire chief and look forward to working with him,” said the township.
“I am very excited to be joining the Township of Lanark Highlands, which is where I was born and raised,” Rothwell said. “I'm looking forward to this opportunity to serve the community, and work with an outstanding group of firefighters.”
The township praised Richardson for his service and dedication during his tenure as fire chief, which began April 29, 2019.