Simonds Has Mixed Feelings About Leaving The Port City

After almost 7 years as fire chief, Rob Simonds is leaving the city to take up the same job in Hamilton, Ontario with mixed emotions. He has spent more than 30 years with the Saint John Fire Department.


He says he is leaving a city with significant fire protection challenges to a city with parallel challenges and he looks forward to helping to solve those challenges.

Simonds tells CHSJ News the Saint John fire department is doing a lot more these days.
He notes the risk assessment on the Canaport LNG facility or their work on the pipeline project.
He also says the spending caps imposed on the fire department by Common Council this year and next had nothing to do with his decision to leave the city.