New deputy fire chief in Tillsonburg

Fred Ten Eyck is Tillsonburg’s new deputy fire chief, and the acting fire chief. (Jeff Helsdon Photo)

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

Tillsonburg has a new deputy fire chief.

Fred Ten Eyck started as the deputy fire chief on May 28.

This is a traditional role in Tillsonburg Fire Department, but past Chief Shane Caskenette chose not to fill it.

“There always has been a deputy chief position, but the chief before this didn’t have a deputy,” Ten Eyck said.

Chief Scott Tegler, who started in May 2025, chose to fill the position.

Ten Eyck will work to ensure all Tillsonburg firefighters have the mandatory certification required by the province. He will also ensure the department meets other guidelines, develop an annual training curriculum with the firefighters, and take on other duties as assigned.

The deputy responds to some fires, depending on what is going on at the time and the severity of the incident. Although he presently has to stay back from the fire because his custom-fitted bunker gear hasn’t arrived yet, he has attended fires to learn how the Tillsonburg firefighters work. Platoon chiefs take command at the scene, but Ten Eyck provides support when he attends.

He has seen that the safety culture amongst Tillsonburg firefighters is great.

The deputy chief came to the position from the Waterloo department. He grew up next door in Kitchener, and knew he wanted to work in public service, but initially thought law enforcement was his career path. He then switched to firefighting, attended Lambton College for fire sciences, and started in Waterloo as a full-time firefighter in 1999, and was the captain training officer when he left.

“I came down here for an ice training course 10 years ago,” he recounted. “I was impressed with Tillsonburg Fire at the time, seeing the equipment, the passion of the members and the level they were working to.”

Ten Eyck is from Kitchener, but moved to this area recently. He then started looking for opportunities closer to his new home.

“This was a great opportunity to put applications out and see what came of it,” he said.

When Ten Eyck was hired, Tegler was off on leave. Vanessa Devoloin, assistant chief of administration and fire communication, was the acting chief. Ten Eyck didn’t think it proper for him to step in immediately as acting chief, wanting to learn more about the department and its 34 firefighters.

“They live in the town,” he said of the firefighters. “They’re here for the right reasons, which is to support each other and the town.”

After spending time on the job, Ten Eyck took over as acting chief on June 21.