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A search is underway to find a new fire chief for the North Westside Fire Department.
Barely six months after being hired, Alex Van Bruksvoort is no longer on the job.
Regional District of Central Okanagan spokesman Bruce Smith confirmed the news Friday.
"By mutual agreement, Alex Van Bruksvoort, is no longer leading the North Westside Fire Department. The regional district thanks Alex for his work with the department," said Smith in a brief statement.
"Senior captain Nick Cantryn is acting chief of the department until the process for determining the new chief is complete.
"He is being supported by offices of the North Westside fire Department along with RDCO's fire services manager."
For privacy reasons, Smith wouldn't say what led to Van Bruksvoort's departure.
He did reiterate the safety and protection of North Westside residents continues to be, and always has been, the the top priority for both the RDCO and the department.
"Paid on call members of the department are employees of the RDCO, and they remain dedicated to continuing with their high level of training and service to the community, and are ready to answer any calls for fire or first medical response for people in the community."
Okanagan West Regional Director Wayne Carson, himself a former fire chief with the North Westside department, says he was given the news of Van Bruksvoort's departure a few days ago.
Carson says he has met Cantryn a few times, describing him as a "real solid guy."
"I give him all the support that I can possibly give to him," said Carson.
Carson says Cantryn will be the fifth or six fire chief since he left the job in 2013.
He says he believes the chief needs to be somebody who lives in the area and knows the area, and has the training and experience in the area.
"This isn't just a structural fire department, they are living in the middle of the interface. That's something I tried to prepare the fire department for when I was the fire chief."
Van Bruksvoort was installed chief in June after the previous chief and lieutenant were suspended indefinitely.
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