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Chilliwack fire chief presents last report to council

Chief Rick Ryall addressed council for the last time Tuesday, as he prepares to retire in July of this year.
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City of Chilliwack Fire Chief Rick Ryall is set to retire in July 2013

City of Chilliwack is seeking a new fire chief.

Chief Rick Ryall addressed Chilliwack council for the last time on Tuesday, as he prepares to retire in July of this year.

"I'm sure you have mixed feelings," said Mayor Sharon Gaetz gently, as Ryall approached the podium in council chambers to give the first quarter fire report.

"We do too, and are really sad to see you retire."

On behalf of Chilliwack council and its residents, Mayor Gaetz thanked Chief Ryall profusely for his service to the department since 1999, although acknowledging that he would prefer that no one made a fuss.

"You really care about public safety in our community, and I want to say a huge, huge thank you," she said.

Ryall filed a first-quarter fire report for the City of Chilliwack Fire Department for January to March 2013. A total of 479 calls of various kinds were logged in that three-month period, which is the lowest first quarter total in the past six years. Last year's first quarter total was 552 calls.

There were 69 fires in the first quarter including 23 residential structure fires and 21 vehicle fires, costing about $910,000, with injuries to 13 people.

jfeinberg@theprogress.com

Twitter.com/chwkjourno



Jennifer Feinberg

About the Author: Jennifer Feinberg

I have been a Chilliwack Progress reporter for 20+ years, covering the arts, city hall, as well as Indigenous, and climate change stories.
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