Thompson Fire and Emergency Services bid a fond farewell to deputy chief Kane Doran, whose last day on the job was Aug. 3.

Doran is departing to take on a position as an instructor officer with the Office of the Fire Commissioner in Brandon. The move wasn’t one that Doran had been planning, but rather threw his name in the ring when the position opened up.

“It was just something that kind of came down the line and I had heard about,” said Doran, “the opportunity presented itself and I took it.”

Doran has been with the Thompson fire department since 2007 and held the deputy chief title since 2009 when he took over from departing Trevor Morrissey.

In his time with the department he helped the FireFit squad take first place at the regional FireFit competition in 2008.

The transient nature of many jobs in Thompson is evidenced with Doran’s departure and Bourgon’s promotion, making him the third deputy chief in just four years. In a faction like the fire department however, Doran says this kind of movement isn’t all that common.

“Ideally, when people make chief they stick around for a long time,” said Doran, “in a lot of departments some people wait 15 or 20 years to become a deputy chief and up to 25 years to become chief.”

Bourgon was promoted from his lieutenant position, having been hired on with Thompson Fire and Emergency Services in 2007 and was actually brought in along with Doran in the same hiring process. His official start date as deputy chief was July 24, and he looks to continue in the standard set by Doran.

“I just want to continue the same standard of excellent care to the citizens of Thompson, in line with the history of this department” said Bourgon.

For Doran, this won’t be his first time leaving Thompson after having grown up and lived in the city for much of his life. He attended school in Brandon and graduated in 2005 before returning home.

“The transition coming back here was really easy when I came back up in 2007,” said Doran, “it’s a fantastic department and a great group of guys.”

Doran is thankful for his time in Thompson, and says that moving back eventually could be a possibility, though he is just taking things as they come for now.

“It’s been my pleasure and honour to serve this community and the city and to work with the members of this department,” said Doran, “I’d like to say thank you to the city and the department for my time here.”