An assistant chief with the Burnaby Fire Department abruptly retired Wednesday morning to avoid disciplinary action after he was questioned for possible “insubordination” related to the “sacred fire” at Camp Cloud.
On July 19, Bryan Kirk told Camp Cloud protester Kwitsel Tatel (who also goes by Patricia Kelly) in a phone call that he might not obey orders if he were told to extinguish the camp’s ceremonial fire, which burns continuously.
Tatel had called the fire department after hearing firefighters might douse it the next morning at the deadline of the City of Burnaby’s eviction notice - given to the camp on July 18.
“There’s no way we would do that,” Kirk is heard telling Tatel on the phone in a video recorded by a reporter with the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network and posted to Twitter.
On Friday evening Burnaby Assistant Fire Chief cleared rumour the fire department would try to extinguish #CampCloud sacred fire Saturday AM, told camp court monitor Kwitsel Tatel he supports water protectors in their fight against #TransMountain pipeline. 1/2 @APTNNews pic.twitter.com/6yUAv8fozg
— Justin Brake (@JustinBrakeNews) July 21, 2018
“Even if I was told to do it, I still might not do it,” Kirk is heard telling Tatel. “I’m not up there, but I’m so supportive of you guys for doing that. Hell, let’s face it, it’s easier to go home at the end of the day than stay in a camp, so you guys are making sacrifices.”
Kirk told the NOW in an interview today (Thursday) that he knew he was being recorded at the time and had given consent.
Kirk said he was summoned to a meeting Wednesday morning with the city’s director of public safety and community services, Dave Critchley. The fire chief, Joe Robertson, and Kirk’s union representatives were also present, he said.
The 30-minute meeting began with a reading of the transcript of the phone conversation, Kirk said.
“I just kind of owned it and said 'Yeah, it wasn't my best moment and I regret it,'” Kirk said.
Kirk said no disciplinary action was discussed at the meeting.
“I would have to be a fool to think it wasn't coming,” he said.
Almost as soon as the meeting was over, Kirk said he decided to retire and told the city of his intentions.
“It's a good thing I did because I was apparently in line for the heaviest suspension ever levied in the history of the Burnaby fire department,” he said.
Kirk said he only heard a rumour about the anticipated suspension.
More than 36 years into his firefighting career and months away from his 60th birthday, Kirk said it became clear that the time had come for him to move on. He said he was also worried about losing his retirement benefits.
“So I might as well hang them up,” he said.
Kirk said he still remains supportive of the Camp Cloud protesters who have spent months at the side of Shellmont Street on Burnaby Mountain as a protest against Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project.
He said he hasn’t changed his mind about his desire to allow the sacred fire to remain.
“I still stand by that … In my estimation, it (the fire) wasn't posing a huge problem.”
Burnaby city manager Lambert Chu said he would not comment about any disciplinary action that would have been taken against Kirk had he not retired.
“I don't want to go into a hypothetical situation,” Chu said.
Chu also said the Wednesday morning meeting did not address any possible suspension.
The city manager did, however, confirm that the meeting was called to address Kirk’s comments to Tatel.
“That's their private conversation and I just feel that Mr. Kirk's response was inappropriate and that's all I can say,” he said. “That's clearly insubordination, so that's the inappropriateness.”
Chu would not say whether he thought Kirk’s retirement was connected the meeting and potential repercussions.
“I think he has just decided that it's time for him to enjoy another chapter of his life,” Chu said.
