Acting fire chief named in Whitby, Ontario

A man with more than 30 years in of experience in fire services has been tapped for the role of Interim Fire Chief for the Town of Whitby.

Mark Pankhurst has worked as both a Fire Chief and Deputy Fire Chief in Ajax, Kawartha Lakes and Rama. He has also worked at the provincial level as a Fire Services liaison with the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs.

Pankhurst takes over, effective March 16, from Michael Hickey, who assumed the job in early 2023.

Hickey first joined the Whitby Fire Service as a volunteer firefighter in 1998. He was hired on full-time in 2000 and rose through the ranks to Deputy Fire Chief in 2021.

The recruitment process for a permanent Whitby Fire Chief is currently underway

For more information on Whitby Fire and Emergency Service, visit whitby.ca/Fire