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Terrace fire chief retires

John Klie’s career includes time in Kitimat
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Terrace fire chief John Klie, seen here on the right in this 2011 file photo, is retiring from his position. On the left is long time fire department member Lawrence Stella. (File photo)

Terrace fire chief John Klie is retiring after 12 years on the job. His last day is June 16.

Klie leaves a department of 10 paid firefighters, up from eight paid firefighters when he arrived, and 15 volunteers.

Klie worked in Kitimat for 36 years, starting there in 1975 before coming to Terrace in 2011.

The position of fire chief comes with responsibility for municipal fire protection and fire protection programs, including enforcing the city’s fire bylaws when necessary.

The chief is also the city’s emergency programs coordinator, responsible for the city’s emergency programs.

Based on the city’s budget plans for this year, the fire department will spend $2.77 million on operational expenses. And that’s the fourth largest budget area within the city, behind the RCMP at $4.223 million, Public Works at $4.87 million and Parks and Recreation at $4.042 million.

In 2021, the last year statistics are available, the department responded to 788 9-1-1 calls, markedly more than the 546 incidents the year before.

Of that total, 275 were fire-related, 110 were rescue and motor vehicle incident responses, 213 were for medical calls and 190 were for various assists, complaints and other calls.

Klie is the second senior official this year to announce a departure. City manager Kris Boland, the city’s top administrator, is resigning and he’s due to leave in June as well.