SILTON, Sask. — The Silton Volunteer Fire Department is fully operational once again after a staffing and governance dispute earlier this year left the community without its own fire service.
The department resumed service Nov. 1 following a recruitment and training campaign that helped restore staffing levels, according to deputy fire chief Bob Wilson and deputy mayor Dave Holliday.
The village's fire service was temporarily shut down in August after village council removed fire chief Corey Coons and deputy chief Trevor Leggett amid disagreements over governance and operational concerns. The department's interim chief later resigned, resulting in the fire hall being closed and neighbouring communities, including Earl Grey and Lumsden, providing emergency fire coverage.
Wilson said the department has made significant progress in rebuilding its volunteer ranks.
"We conducted a recruitment drive and training program for new recruits," he said. "Before the shutdown, the department had about 20 volunteer members. We're back to 17 members now, with a short-term goal of returning to 20 and a longer-term goal of reaching 24 or 25."
Established in 1985, the Silton Volunteer Fire Department has served the community for more than four decades.
"We are fully committed to the fire department moving forward," Wilson said. "We were fortunate to receive a strong response to our recruitment efforts and are pleased to once again have a good working relationship with the village."
He noted that both the fire chief and deputy chief positions are volunteer roles.
Wilson said differing opinions are inevitable within community organizations and can be beneficial when handled constructively.
"A difference of opinion is a good thing in a community group because people bring different viewpoints," he said. "The goal is to work together collaboratively to find the best solution. In fire protective services, public safety is the common objective, and that's something that can unite everyone even when there are differing opinions."
Holliday said disagreement within the department was not unusual, but the recent dispute marked the first time the fire service had been forced to suspend operations.
"We've had differences of opinion at the fire department for more than 40 years and we've always worked through them until this point," he said.
"The decision to part ways was very difficult for us, but when it came down to it, we felt we had no other choice."
Holliday said the department previously operated under the same fire chief for approximately 35 years and maintained a strong working relationship with village council.
"He worked with council, worked within the budget process and helped build our fire department into one of the best in the area," Holliday said, noting the former chief later moved into an advisory role.
Holliday added that Coons and Leggett, both from the Silton area, had served in their positions for a relatively short period, with Coons holding the chief's position for about two years before the dispute.
The new fire chief is Chris Silzer, with Bob Wilson serving as deputy fire chief.
The reopening of the department ends the need for neighbouring municipalities to provide temporary fire protection coverage and restores local emergency response services to the community.
