LETHBRIDGE, AB – Four the fourth time in roughly ten years, the City of Lethbridge is looking for a new Fire Chief.
Marc Rathwell has announced he’s retiring after a long career as a local firefighter and paramedic. He’s been the City’s Fire Chief for the past two-and-a-half years.
Rathwell says his replacement will likely face some changes.
“Things like the operational review that we’re doing with KPMG. I think we are really going to see some good pieces that come out of there in terms of potential opportunities. I believe we are trying to solidify what an integrated fire service is in the world we are in today,” says Rathwell.
Rathwell was hired on as Fire Chief just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit and has been navigating the local Fire?EMS service through that from the start.
He worked his way up the ranks of the local service, starting back in 1996. He became a medical training officer after that, then Lieutenant in 2014, Captain in 2016, Deputy Chief in 2018, and Fire Chief in 2019.
City to Hire New Fire Chief Internally
The City of Lethbridge won’t have to look very far to find Rathwell’s replacement.
Mike Fox, Lethbridge’s Director of Community Services, says the next Fire Chief will be in place by mid-January and will be hired from within.
“The City of Lethbridge did a quick market scan, but we believe that we have the talent and Marc has lead him team very successfully and I think we have a lot of talent internally,” says Fox.
The next Fire Chief will follow in the footsteps of three other Chiefs who headed the Lethbridge Fire/EMS Service since 2010, including Marc Rathwell; Richard Hildebrand; and Brian Cornforth.
