OHSWEKEN – Six Nations has a new Fire Chief. Starting on April 13, 2015, Matthew Miller is now heading the Six Nations Fire Department (SNFD).
Miller began his career in emergency services 15 years ago when former Six Nations firefighter, now Six Nations Advanced Care Paramedic, Ron Thomas convinced him to join the Six Nations Fire Department as a volunteer firefighter. Since then, Matthew has had periodic breaks from the SNFD to complete higher education and training and to look after other career/family responsibilities. Matthew always returned to Six Nations to help in any way that he could, such as assisting with bringing Advanced Care Paramedicine to the Six Nations Community.
Over the span of Matthew’s emergency services career he has served in the full time positions of Deputy Fire Chief with the Six Nations Fire Department and Operations Manager of the Oneida Emergency Medical Services. Matthew comes to SNFD from Ornge Air Ambulance where he worked as an Advanced Care Flight Paramedic for the past 3.5 years.
“I completely credit my entire emergency services career to the Six Nations Fire Department and the many mentors from Six Nations that I have had,” says Miller. Miller would like to acknowledge “Mike Seth, Eric Sault, Cindy Maracle, Terry White, Mike Winnie, Dennis Martin, Joey Hill, Babs Hill, Howard VanEvery, Bill Porter as well as many other fire personnel who have moved on from the department and/or Six Nations for various reasons.”
Matthew would also like to thank Crystal Farmer, Vince Martin and Marion “Babs” Hill for their excellent service in keeping the SNFD operating over the past few months and also with assisting him in getting up to speed with our service.
“I am very excited with the new position and anxious to get started,” said Miller.
He is also excited about the new Fire Hall, which will begin construction very soon.
“It’s going to be a lot better for everyone,” he says.
However, he admits that underfunding for more full time firefighters and equipment upgrades is still a chronic issue, which he, like his predecessor, Michael Seth, will have to battle with.
“I will keep on with some of the funding efforts Michael had in place but I have a few new ideas as well,” he says.
