Photo: Town of Osoyoos

New fire chief Ryan McCaskill with the Osoyoos Fire Department. McCaskill has been with the department for 17 years.

There's a new fire chief at the Osoyoos Fire Department for the first time in more than a decade.

Ryan McCaskill was elected to the position by his peers on Nov. 15 and formally took over the job on Nov. 20.

McCaskill has been a firefighter in the department for 17 years. He takes over for Rick Jones, who held the top job for 11 years and has served in the department for 35 years.

A humble McCaskill acknowledged that, while he has the experience, he knows he's taking over a challenging position.

"I have a lot to learn, wasn't really brought into the administrative part of the department. I've been a hands-on worker for a long time," he said. 

"It's a learning process. I like to learn, I like the challenge ... I put a lot of pressure that I need to know it all right now, and I don't. It's going to take time, and I have to adapt to that."

McCaskill gave high praise for the work Jones has done in the role over the years.

"I do have big shoes to fill regarding Rick. He could do it all. I have all the respect for him."

Jones said he plans to take a break from the department for at least a couple months. 

When asked if there are any highlights from his past 11 years, Jones said, "the biggest thing is while I've been a fire chief nobody's died or got injured on the fire department."

Jones had advocated for a new fire hall for the department — which was completed last December. The building upgrade provided a list of improvements for the fire crew, Jones said at the time. 

"It's not in my nature really to start bragging about what I've done ... I've enjoyed my time (as fire chief). And you never know, I might run in the next election. We'll see what happens."