Fire Chief Paul Hurst will retire on October 1, 2026, ending a 42-year career with the fire department in View Royal, British Columbia. Hurst first started helping at the local fire station when he was 12 years old and officially joined as a volunteer at age 16.
According to the Town of View Royal, Hurst followed in the footsteps of his father, who was also a volunteer captain for over 20 years. Since becoming chief in 2006, he has managed fire services for the town and also served as the chief for the Songhees Nation and Esquimalt Nation.
The British Columbia government previously awarded Hurst a medal for bravery after he saved a young girl from a house fire. He also spent eight days in 2022 running 640 kilometres from Port Hardy to Victoria to raise money for first responders and veterans dealing with stress injuries.
Mayor Sid Tobias said that the chief’s long career shows a deep dedication to public service. The town fire department recently hired four new full-time firefighters to ensure emergency coverage remains strong while officials prepare for the leadership change later this year.
