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Hail to the chief

Rankin Inlet lands new fire chief after lengthy search

Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Nov 13/02) - The community of Rankin Inlet has a new fire chief and emergency services manager after months of searching.

NNSL Photo

Rick Penner brings 22 years of firefighting experience with him to his new position as emergency services manager and fire chief in Rankin Inlet. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo


Rick Penner, 45, moved to Rankin this past month from Carman, Man., where he had resided for the past 30 years.

Penner was a volunteer firefighter for 22 years, the past seven of which he spent as chief of the Carman department.

The chief's wife, Debbie, will be joining him in Rankin, while the couple's two sons, Chris, 18, and Tyler, 21, will be staying behind at their full-time jobs.

Penner says becoming Rankin's fire chief fulfills one of his lifelong dreams.

He says there are many similarities between career and volunteer firefighters.

"The term professional can carry many meanings and I have always considered both volunteer and career firefighters to be professionals," says Penner.

"We all have the same job to do, take the same training, operate much of the same equipment and service the same communities."

Penner says he is impressed with the job interim Fire Chief Ambrose Karlik and the 17-member Rankin Inlet Volunteer Fire Department did without an official fire chief.

He says his number one priority will be to focus on training.

"With the skills and influences of my background, I anticipate taking Rankin's volunteer firefighters to a level that is not common within the Kivalliq communities.

"I plan to take them to the equivalency of a Level One firefighter in Manitoba, which is an internationally recognized program."

Penner says he has already received a great deal of support from hamlet council through Coun. Robert Janes and senior administrative officer Ron Roach, as well as Keewatin regional fire marshal Tim Hinds.

He says there also appears to be a great deal of support and recognition within the community for both his position and the job local firefighters do.

"Volunteer firefighters perform a service in their community that a lot of other people can't, or won't, do for a number of various reasons.

"These individuals often put the needs of the community ahead of their own and they deserve a lot of credit for that."