Rick Cousins firefighting career began when he was just a teen.
The Petrolia/North Enniskillen Fire deputy chief has just taken over the top job of the department in the wake of the retirement of Jay Arns. Cousins says it is quite and honour and privilege to be appointed to the job.
Cousins has been part of the fire service for most of his life. Before becoming a firefighter 35 years ago, Cousins helped out at the Brigden fire hall. When he was 14 or 15, Cousins lived near the hall and when the sirens would blare alerting the volunteers of a call, Cousins would go to the hall too, answering calls as the department responded.
“It was pretty cool,” said Cousins in an interview with The Independent Dec. 30. Cousins would be at the fire hall approximately three to four hours each time.
When he turned 18 in 1985, he joined the Brigden Fire Department as a firefighter. Upon getting married in 1988, he moved to Petrolia where he took a hiatus from volunteering as a firefighter until he joined the Petrolia/North Enniskillen Fire Department in 1990. Since then he has moved up the ranks to captain and deputy chief to fire chief.
“It really excited me,” Cousins said about being a firefighter. “It has been a big part of my life and I have enjoyed every day of it.”
There have also been some tough situations every firefighter has to deal but each of these incidents bind you together as a crew.
One of the key things he brings to the fire chief position is his leadership experience. He has been with the OPP’s auxiliary unit for 28 years, with 18 of those serving as unit commander overseeing 20 members. He has also worked for Patene Building Supplies for 23 years and has been the assistant manager and regional commercial roofing sales representative for the past 15 years.
“I honestly never thought I would be in this position,” said Cousins. As he has moved up the ranks, Cousins has learned from those above him. He was especially appreciative of his predecessor Fire Chief Jay Arns. Cousins said Arns has done a great job and he has learned a lot from him.
In fact, when the appointment was made, Cousins said Arns told him he was ready. Cousins says the fire department has been left to him in good condition, calling it a “fine tuned machine.”
Cousins moves up from his role as deputy chief. He expects to fill that deputy chief position by February or early March.
Looking ahead, some of his priorities is to continue training, as well as recruitment. The Petrolia and North Enniskillen Fire Department currently has 30 members, with a fire chief, three deputy chiefs, four captains and 22 fire fighters. The department has 25 fire fighters at full complement.
Maintaining equipment is also another priority, with a replacement of the department’s tanker. Cousins said the department are still in talks about replacing the tanker. This is after the plan to purchase a $1.4 million combined pumper and tanker was rejected by the Enniskillen Township Council in 2023.