ESTEVAN — Lincoln Empey’s enjoyment of being part of the Estevan Fire Rescue Service (EFRS) has resulted in a new and expanded role.
Empey is now the deputy fire chief of investigations and inspections. He is sharing the deputy chief’s duties with Kyle Luc, who looks after training and operations.
“For the most part, I’m doing inspections for fire code violations for most commercial buildings within the city of Estevan,” Empey said in an interview with SaskToday.
He will try to carry out 25-30 inspections in a week. Empey would only conduct an investigation to find out the cause or origin of a fire.
Empey said firefighting has been “a huge passion” of his since he joined the department in June 2007. His role with inspections is more about fire prevention than responding to scene calls, but Empey said he has enjoyed his responsibilities thus far.
He will still be involved with responses, as every fourth week he serves as the incident commander – a role that alternates with three other members.
His experience with the department helped prepare him for the job. Empey climbed through the ranks of the EFRS over the years, working his way up to lieutenant and then captain, a role he held for the last five years.
“I didn’t go from a firefighter right to deputy fire chief, so it’s prepared me through each position,” he said.
Empey is well known in the community through his role as the owner of the House of Stationery office supplies business on Fourth Street – a company that has been in his family for decades. He is still the owner, but he said he has stepped back from the operations side.
