Port Hope Fire Chief Announces He’s Accepted Role as Deputy Fire Chief with City of Belleville

Pete Fisher
2 years ago
• Categories: Editor Choice, Local

The Director of the Port Hope Fire and Emergency Services has announced he has accepted the position as Deputy Fire Chief with the City of Belleville Fire Department.

Dan Smith last day with Port Hope is on May 26, 2022 and he starts the following Monday in Belleville.

“It is with a very heavy heart that I announce I’m leaving Port Hope Fire and Emergency Services and have accepted the role of Deputy Chief with the Belleville Fire Service.”

“The men and women of the Port Hope Fire and Emergency Services are exceptional in what they give to their community and the citizens should be very proud of them.”

Deputy Chief Jeff Ogden alongside the District Chiefs will continue to lead the department forward.

“I say it is with a heavy heart not only because I will miss working with the community and firefighters, but yesterday one of our firefighters lost his daughter.”

“I offer my sincerest condolences to firefighter Mark Chard and his family.“ Being in the fire services for decades, I can assure Mark that the family of men and women of the Port Hope Fire and Emergency Services will be there for him and his family along the way.”

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Port Hope Fire Chief Dan Smith has announced he will be leaving his post as Fire Chief and Director, Protective Services.

Chief Smith has accepted a position with the City of Belleville Fire Department as Deputy Chief, Community Risk and Strategic Projects. His last day with the Municipality of Port Hope will be Friday, May 27, 2022.

Chief Smith joined the Municipality in March 2020 as Deputy Fire Chief, later becoming Fire Chief and Director, Protective Services in November 2020, responsible for the Municipality’s Fire Service, Building Services Division, and the By-law Enforcement Division.

“Over the last two years I have had the privilege to lead a dynamic team in protecting the community,” notes Chief Smith. “Whether it be through building inspections, By-law enforcement or emergency response, the men and women of Protective Services have done an outstanding job. I am so proud of our staff’s dedication through the pandemic, it has been truly amazing. I wish them all long and healthy careers and am especially excited to see how the division of Fire and Emergency Services aligns its future based on the recommendations of the forthcoming Master Fire Plan.”

Smith is an experienced Firefighter with over twenty years of fire service experience in various leadership roles. Dedicated to lifelong learning, he is a certified Fire Officer and holds a diploma in Fire Protection Engineering, an executive diploma in municipal management, as well as certifications in Fire Service Leadership, Fire Service Administration and Fire and Explosive Investigation.

A few of Smith’s notable accomplishments while working with the Municipality of Port Hope include the recruitment and training of many volunteer firefighters, the implementation of environmentally friendly fire fighting foam, and the rebranding of the department of ‘Fire and Emergency Services’ to ‘Protective Services’. In addition, and most remarkably, Chief Smith’s steadfast leadership and direction during the COVID-19 pandemic helped keep our community safe.

“Chief Smith has provided excellent leadership to Protective Services during the past two years” notes David Smith, CAO of the Municipality of Port Hope. “He stepped into his role as Chief at an incredibly trying time during the COVID-19 pandemic. He worked diligently to provided us all with unwavering direction. We wish him a fond farewell and thank him for his dedicated service.”