A Wilson害羞草研究所檚 Landing firefighter is taking over as the new fire chief, starting today.

Don Bennison has been with the department since 2005, chairing the department Officer害羞草研究所檚 Committee and serving as Deputy Chief since 2011.

According to Regional District of Central Okanagan Fire Services Manager Ross Kotscherofski, Bennison is well known in the Wilson害羞草研究所檚 Landing and Traders Cove communities due to his long-service with the fire department.

害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 well respected by everyone involved with the fire service and played an instrumental role over the past few years in directing the Wilson害羞草研究所檚 Landing response to several recent interface wildfires in the area. Don served as Incident Commander during the recent Pine Point wildfire and last summer害羞草研究所檚 Cinnabar Creek blaze. He also led the nighttime evacuation of Traders Cove during the 2016 Bear Creek wildfire,害羞草研究所� said Kotscherofski.

Chief Bennison takes over from former chief Rob Baker who recently stepped down and remains with the department in a leadership role.