Hiring Emergency Management Coordinator with Warwick

Plympton-Wyoming’s new fire chief will be on the job in October.

The town has hired Erik Campbell, a former military man, volunteer firefighter and the current manager of emergency response and planning at St. John’s International Airport in Newfoundland.

In a news release, the town says Campbell holds several degrees and certificates including one in fire service leadership and administration and homeland security and emergency management.

Mayor Gary Atkinson says 16 people applied for the position including some candidates from the area but Campbell “seemed to have the qualities were looking for.”

Campbell fills the boots of former chief Darryl Thompson who left the municipality after being placed on administrative leave in February at the same time the former CAO Carolyn Tripp went on sick leave. Plympton-Wyoming parted ways with the chief May 18. Tripp left and was quickly hired by the Municipality of North Middlesex. Atkinson expects her replacement will be announced next week.

And while Campbell will be the fire chief and director of fire and emergency services, he won’t hold the title of Community Emergency Management Coordinator. Atkinson says the town and Warwick Township have decided to hire a CEMC to serve both municipalities. A job description says the individual will work 10 to 15 hours a week and lead the efforts during emergency situations such as tornadoes or floods.

Atkinson says he’d often thought the fire chief already has many responsibilities in an emergency situation without leading the logistics of handling an emergency. He adds Plympton-Wyoming and Warwick are neighbours who share many similarities and have a major rail line running through their communities, so a joint employee makes sense.

The new fire chief will be the second in command at the emergency management table.