Swift Current Fire Department's new Fire Chief Ryan Hunter is a veteran of the department with twenty-four years of service.

Hunter began his training with four years in auxiliary and an additional year's training to become an EMT firefighter.

During his time with the department, Hunter says the job has constantly changed. "The fire services is changing so fast, and the reason it's changing is cars are built differently. So all auto extrication tools and techniques have to change, the building materials are changing so fire reacts differently so we have to have different processes and functions to get fires out correctly and safely."

Hunter adds that over the past ten years the department has also added Paramedic Firefighters in order to serve the city in a large capacity.

Prior to his new role, Hunter served as Deputy Chief under Darren McClelland and says they spent many hours discussing what they wanted to see within the department, what they could do better and what new things they could bring in.

Hunter believes this new role will provide him with the opportunity to fulfill what they had discussed. "I am very excited that I got the chance to be chief because I want to complete all those projects we talked about because I think they are an amazing thing to take a department forward. One of them is really improving our training ground so that we can bring in training for all fire departments in the Southwest.

Reflecting upon the knowledge he received from McClelland, Hunter adds that the greatest piece of advice he obtained was to take in all information available before making a decision because you will then be making an educated one.

The department also recently welcomed Trevor Braun into the role of Captin after the retirement of long-serving Captain Greg Campbell, and Reagan Darby has filled the Lieutenant role left open by Braun.

With regard to these newly filled positions, Hunter has great confidence in both gentlemen and adds that they will have no issues as they are both highly trained and good at their jobs.