New fire chief to be recommended to council

North Bay’s loss appears to be the Sault’s gain.

SooToday has learned that Mike Figliola, deputy fire chief of the North Bay Fire Department, has resigned to accept the soon-to-be open chief’s position at Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services.

City staff here can’t confirm who the new chief will be, though Joe Fratesi, the city’s chief administrative officer, did confirm that “job offers have been made.”

Council needs to pass a bylaw to approve such a hiring, and Fratesi said a recommendation is slated to go to council for Monday’s regular meeting. 

“There will be a report to council in the agenda,” said Fratesi.

Fire Chief Marcel Provenzano announced in August that he would be retiring as of Jan. 31 after 33 years with the department.

A hiring committee made up of Fratesi, Peter Niro, the city’s commissioner of human resources, and Ward 1 Councillor Paul Christian was charged with finding Provenzano’s replacement.

Figliola leaves the North Bay Fire Department after just six months on the job. 

He came to North Bay after being chief for 9 years of the fire department at Canada’s busiest airport, Pearson International in Toronto.

Fire chief announces retirement (updated)

(PHOTO: Mike Figliola, deputy chief of the North Bay Fire Department, is pictured in this Village Media file photo)