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Thanking a volunteer on retirement
September 23, 2025
Petrolia/North Enniskillen Fire Chief Rick Cousins thanked long-time volunteer firefighter, Deputy Chief Darren Allen, for 25 years of service.
His retirement was marked at Petrolia Council Sept. 22 meeting.
“DC Allen has served with professionalism leadership and is doing so with the commitment to the safety of our community, for responding to countless fires, even guiding and mentoring the next generation of firefighters. His impact will be felt long after his retirement,” said Cousins.
Allen joined the department in 2000 as a probationary firefighter, and then served as a firefighter for seven years before becoming a Platoon Captain and then the Deputy Chief in 2020.
“I couldn’t have done it without my family,” he told council in an impromptu speech. “They probably endured more heartache from this than me.”
Allen said there were a couple of Christmases missed for his work as a firefighter. “There’s one New Year’s Eve that I will definitely pay for because I was gone just before noon the next day.”
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