Fire Chief Dave Cockle passed along the ceremonial fire helmet to Deputy Chief Darren Hughes during Oak Bay municipal council, Jan. 28.
Hughes becomes chief after Cockle retires, Jan. 31.
He will be the tenth fire chief in Oak Bay’s history, and the tenth to guard the 1938 leather helmet worn by Oak Bay’s first chief, Edward Clayards.
Cockle retires after over 30 years of service. He was a founding member of the earthquake alliance and shakeout BC, which Mayor Kevin Murdoch said we’ll appreciate more when the big one hits.
READ MORE: Oak Bay Fire Chief Dave Cockle to retire
Hughes’ career with Oak Bay started in 1992 and he’s been the Deputy Chief since 2016.
On Twitter residents and councillors expressed their thanks to Cockle as retirement draws closer.
😳oh gosh, @CockleDave has been a Piller for as long as I can remember. Happy retirement, and wishing the best of success to the next Chief!
— Terry L. Calveley (@ThisIsTLC) January 29, 2019
jesse.laufer@oakbaynews.com
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