The search for a new interim fire chief will begin in earnest in Fort Frances.

The town has not had a full-time chief since January.

The role was filled by Chief Administrative Officer Marcel Michaels in April after the town opted not to renew a contract with Dave Robertson, who was interim fire chief for nearly a year.

Michael feels someone else with more expertise should handle the role.

“I’m not the long-term solution for the fire chief. I think it was assessing the departmental needs and knowing that, without any other resolution, I think the long-term interim approach is better suited for someone other than me,” says Michaels.

Michaels says it could take at least a couple of months before a new interim chief is named.

The town intends to seek out internal and external candidates.

How long the department will be overseen by an interim fire chief is uncertain.

Tyler Moffit, who held the position full-time for more than 7 years, has not been on the job since January 2024, and there has been no indication from the town as to why or if he will return.

Michael says there is no timeline for how long the position will remain as interim.

“I can’t say with any accuracy whether it would be one month or 20 months. That’s the challenging part of hiring an interim at this time, that it is case by case,” says Michaels.

He says the town will include an out clause in the contract in the event there is a change.