Town of Springhill, Nova Scotia

Fire Services

The Springhill Volunteer Fire Department was first established in 1890. The Department was founded by Edward Austin Potter who served for 16 years as Fire Chief. At that time the Department consisted of 30 members, a two-wheeled wagon which was pulled by hand, four fire ladders, 16 fire buckets and a few axes, crow bars and hooks.

Present day the Department has 3 Pumpers, Ladder Truck, Rescue Truck and Utility Vehicle. These vehicles are equipped with modern day tools designed for fire fighting and vehicle extraction in highway accidents. Springhill had the longest serving fire fighter Harold Nicholson with 50 years service as a member of the Department, Harold retired in January 2006.

The Fire Department is currently looking for new members.  Anybody interested in becoming a Volunteer Fireman can contact Chief Tom Corkin.

Swearing in of Chief Tom Corkin

Chief Corkin and his wife Joanne relocated back to their hometown of Springhill in May of 2008 and are happy to be back and getting involved in the community once again.  Tom comes to the Town with a vast amount of experience and qualifications as a Firefighter and Fire Chief.  The following is a summary of Mr. Corkin's qualifications:

Qualified by the Nova Scotia Firefighters School as a Level One Firefighter.

Certificates in Air Crash Incidents, Electrical Safety, Hazardous Materials Emergency Response, Transportation of Hazardous Goods, Sprinkler Systems and other Automatic Fire Suppression Equipment; Supervisory/Management Certification; Industrial Accident Investigation; and a Certified Hazmat Technician.

7.5 years as Fire Chief at Bowater Mersey Paper Company Ltd., and 5 years as Private contractor for Fire Protection Services and Fire Department Training at Bowater Mersey Paper Company (May 1991-June 2004).

20 Years with Springhill Volunteer Fire Department 1968-1988 plus 5 years as a fill-in.

8 Years as Training Officer - 1980-1988.

5 Years as Deputy Fire Chief (1983-1988) Acting Chief approximately 18 months of this time.

Mr. Corkin was the recipient of The Fire Services Exemplary Service Medal and Certificate from Governor General of Canada (1988); Certificate and Plaque from Town of Springhill for outstanding Volunteer Fire Service - 1989.