Yellowknife's top firefighter retires, new chief on the way

Yellowknife's fire department is getting a new chief, following the retirement of Chief Darcy Hernblad last week after 31 years fighting the city's fires.

Hernbladhad been Yellowknife fire chief since 2010.

John Fredericks, the chief of the fire department in Kirkland Lake, Ont., has accepted the position and is expected to arrive in early December, according to a City of Yellowknife spokesperson.

In the meantime, deputy chiefs Gerda Groothuizen and Craig McLean will share the responsibility of the department's top job.

Another deputy chief, Mike Hoffman, also left the department last week. He's moved to Saskatchewan to be closer to family, according to City Hall.

Hoffman was with the department for four years.