With Swift Current City Fire Chief Denis Pilon in his last week at the helm, Darren McClelland will be taking over the reigns shortly.

McClelland, who's been with the department for over two decades, said he's looking forward to his new role with a familiar group of staff.

"I've been here for just about 22 years and have worked with pretty much everybody," McClelland explained. "Obviously the top half of the staff we worked together, whether I was on their shift or whatever, and then the newer guys - I've either hired them or have worked with them through training or that sort of thing. So yeah, it's really exciting when you knowing everybody, it's different than say moving to Moose Jaw or something like that and having to meet everybody and try and figure out systems and that sort of thing. We're pretty comfortable here with how things operate."

He added that that familiarity extends beyond just the fire department to City staff, council, Mayor Denis Perrault, and CAO Tim Marcus.

Looking back at the past 22 years, the biggest change for McClelland has been the way the fire department has worked with EMS and RCMP.

"I started in EMS, so I worked with the Swift Current Ambulance for four years before I came here. Back in the day there was that line between fire and EMS and that's when we were just starting to go on EMS calls and starting to respond. There was a little - I don't want to say anymosity - but it was like, 'why is fire coming to these calls? All of a sudden everybody's an EMT' and that sort of thing.

"But over the years we've really bridged that gap. We have an amazing working relationship with RCMP and especially EMS. Sixty per cent of our call volume is EMS, and we work very well, we train together, and when they get second calls and that sort of thing, they're able to rely on us to go and respond."

McClelland, who's been a deputy fire chief since 2013, said he's a fan of how let his staff do their work without hovering over them too much.

"He hasn't made a lot of changes, just some subtle changes here and there. The biggest thing I can say about him is he allows the guys to do their job. He doesn't micromanage. He's not really overtop of anybody looking or checking up on things. He just allows everybody to do their job, and you know what, everybody's pretty relaxed and you feel good when you don't have someone looking over your shoulder wondering what's going on."

There will be a bit of a learning curve as McClelland assumes his new role, but he plans on bringing more of the same relaxed attitude to the job he always has.

"I'm a pretty easy guy to get along with, nonconfrontational and whatever, I like to have fun. I enjoy being at work. I love being at work here. I've been off for the last little bit with some medical leave, but I should be back here fulltime in the next month. As far as who I am, I guess lead by example. I don't expect others to do things that I wouldn't do, and I wouldn't want to ask somebody to do something that just doesn't seem right. I love being around the guys and enjoy just being at the fire department in whatever capacity I can serve in. I feel pretty humbled and pretty honoured to be in this capacity, and just really looking forward to moving ahead."

Pilon's original retirement was slated for August 31, but unused time off means Friday is his last day on the job.