ItSA国际影视传媒檚 been less than two months since Darren Kuhn packed up his bags and made the move from Edmonton to Yellowknife, but already heSA国际影视传媒檚 full of ideas for his new role at the Yellowknife Fire Division.

As the citySA国际影视传媒檚 new deputy fire chief of life safety and fire prevention, Kuhn wants to help Yellowknifers work together to keep their community safe and advocate for mental-health awareness in the firefighting profession.

SA国际影视传媒淚 feel the best thing that I can do is to get out there and to explain to the communities, these are the things we need to work together on,SA国际影视传媒� Kuhn said. SA国际影视传媒淚t really has to be not just our responsibility to save people. I have this saying where fire is everyoneSA国际影视传媒檚 fight.SA国际影视传媒�

Kuhn started his career in 2005, working in Fort McMurray as a firefighter with emergency medical training.

In 2009, he moved to work with the city of Spruce Grove, Alta., just west of Edmonton, before eventually moving to the provincial capital itself to become a fire inspector.

While it was a change from being on the front lines, SA国际影视传媒渋t allowed me to help the firefighters in a different way,SA国际影视传媒� Kuhn said.

His role was to ensure buildings were safe for firefighters to go into and that building owners were compliant with the fire code.

Not long before moving to Yellowknife, Kuhn was chosen to restructure the fire education program in Edmonton, developing fire safety presentations for students, seniors and refugees.

SA国际影视传媒淚 all of a sudden found this whole new chapter of firefighting that allowed me to still feel like I was contributing in a helpful way,SA国际影视传媒� Kuhn said.

When a job came up in Yellowknife with many of the same components of fire safety and prevention he was already working on, he decided to take the leap.

While Yellowknife is a little smaller than where he comes from, that doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 bother him.

Sometimes, Kuhn said, you have to be willing to move to gain new opportunities and learn from people with different views and styles of leadership.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 been really nice to be able to bring in fresh ideas,SA国际影视传媒� Kuhn said. SA国际影视传媒淎nd ISA国际影视传媒檝e got a whole bag of fresh ideas that I want to get off the ground.SA国际影视传媒�

Just this month, he delivered his first fire safety presentation to seniors at the Baker Centre, lighting up the room with fire demonstrations and sharing tips on how to prevent accidents.

HeSA国际影视传媒檚 hoping to follow that up with more student-friendly presentations at schools around the city.

Kuhn said heSA国际影视传媒檚 a strong believer in awareness and education.

And that goes for awareness about the well-being of his crew as well.

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 the type of job where itSA国际影视传媒檚 important to have one anotherSA国际影视传媒檚 backs, Kuhn said, and he wants to support his team in his new role as a deputy fire chief.

SA国际影视传媒淵ou see the injuries and the illnesses and the incidents that a lot of times you never even thought existed out there in the world,SA国际影视传媒� he said, speaking about the job of firefighters and emergency responders. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 really not normal to do that kind of stuff and to see that kind of stuff and to feel those kind of feelings afterwards.SA国际影视传媒�

Kuhn said heSA国际影视传媒檚 always wanted to climb the ladder to eventually become a chief, but he wants to make sure he doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 lose touch with the people on the ground.

SA国际影视传媒淚f theySA国际影视传媒檙e looking after the community, then whoSA国际影视传媒檚 looking after them?SA国际影视传媒� Kuhn said. SA国际影视传媒淚 really want to make sure I am, and we are as a department here, and that the support is there.SA国际影视传媒�