Introducing Castlegar's newest deputy fire chief
By Kyra Hoggan
Castlegar, meet your new deputy fire chief, Sam Lattanzio.
Lots of people already know Lattanzio through his 16 years of volunteer service with the Castlegar Fire Department, where he worked his way up to the rank of captain, and his four years of volunteer firefighting before that with Company Five out of Montrose.
Born and raised in Trail, Lattanzio married Rossland native Trena (who now works at Kootenay Smile Studio), and the pair had two daughters: Alisa, 21, who is now in her fourth year of Sciences at UBC and Gabrielle, who is turning 20 in November and who is in her second year of Selkirk’s Aviation program.
Lattanzio worked as management with Interior Health for 33 years before accepting this position with the Castlegar Fire Department.
“This (firefighting) is my way of being of service to my community,” he said. “I’m not a politician, I’m not going to run for council. This is how I give back.”
Lattanzio boasts extensive training and experience in all aspects of firefighting, Emergency Medical First Response, Emergency Operations Management and Critical Incident Stress Management, and fire chief Gerry Rempel said he’s delighted with his department’s new hire.
“We’re very excited that Sam has accepted the position,” Rempel said. “He has a lot of fabulous experience and training that can’t help but serve Castlegar well in the coming years.”
An existing, positive relationship with both the fire chief and the other deputy fire chief (Duane Monsen) should help ease the transition as Lattanzio fills out and defines what is a new job position within the department.
“They’re both great guys and I look forward to working with, and being mentored by, them,” Lattanzio said.
Lattanzio will officially begin his new role on Nov. 4, and the Castlegar Source would like to extend a warm welcome on behalf of our publication and our readers.
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