Former Victoria Fire Chief and City Councillor Eric Simmons has passed away at 99 years of age.
According to the City of Victoria, Simmons began working at the Victoria Fire Department as a fire fighter in 1946 and served as Fire Chief from 1967 to 1980.
After his firefighting career, he spent 10 years serving as a Victoria City Councillor.
“Eric will be remembered as a vigorous, engaged and distinguished community member,” said Fire Chief Paul Bruce in a press release. “It was always very satisfying to share news of the department with him and to receive his comments on issues with the community and, importantly, with the well-being of the department. He remained engaged and inquisitive to the very end.”
According to his peers in the firefighting community, he was a leader through and through, being elected to various positions with the Victoria Firefighters Association, including Secretary Treasurer and Sixth District Vice-President.
The City said that after transitioning to Councillor, he was involved in many community groups including Fire Chiefs Association of British Columbia, British Columbia Professional Firefighters Association, Silver Threads and Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities.
Simmons leaves behind a son and two granddaughters, while his wife Anne passed away last October. Funeral and recognition service details will be announced in the near future.
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