On October 9, 1973, 24-year-old Bob Sumak walked into the Oakville Fire Department with no idea what to expect. Nearly 35 years later, Sumak is walking out, proud of what he’s leaving behind.

“I promised myself that I wouldn’t stay past the 35-year mark,” Sumak told Oakville Today earlier this week, his last as Oakville Fire Department’s Deputy Chief. “And now it’s here.”

Raised on Kerr Street, Sumak is an Oakville boy through and through. After graduating from Sheridan College and spending a few years in a local brokerage firm, Sumak found himself antsy.

Having a few friends in the Fire Department, he chatted with them about life as a firefighter.

“There were a few things that drew me into the career,” says Sumak. “But largely, after growing up in Oakville, it was a great way to be a part of the community.” On his first attempt at applying, Sumak was accepted and began training. The rest is history.

“I started right at rock bottom. On my first day, I walked into work from Kerr Street and wondered where I was going. I ended up working my way up through all the ranks, first as an Acting Captain, then Captain; Acting Platoon Chief then Platoon Chief; I moved into the front office and became Assistant Deputy Chief. About three and a half years ago I became Deputy Chief.”

The only rank never achieved by Sumak was that of Fire Chief, and it wasn’t for lack of ambition.
“It was always in the back of my mind,” he admits. “I’ve always had it in my mind that I was going to take every step I could up the ladder. It got me this far. It didn’t happen, but sometimes that’s just the way things work out.”

Of the things Sumak admits he will miss, it is the people that brings a note of sadness to his voice.
“You don’t get this kind of camaraderie in other businesses. Here, we actually live together and over the years we really become one big family. If someone was in need, we helped.

“We had one fella, about 15 years ago was working on his roof. He collapsed, and unfortunately passed away. But while he was in the hospital, a bunch of us chipped in and went over and finished his roof off. We completely redid the whole thing for him.”

Sumak will also always remember the warehouse fire of 1978.

“A train had come through town with sparks coming off the wheels on the track,” recalls Sumak. “It lit grass fires all over town which caught seven warehouses on Industry Street, all wooden structures. They completely burnt to the ground. It was the largest fire in the history of Oakville… I was out there for four days.”

Looking to his future, Sumak is expecting to enjoy some time to himself and time with his family. But he’ll be keeping an eye on his fire department.

“The Department is in good hands with Chief Richard Boyes,” Sumak says. “We have a very talented staff and I’m looking forward to following the path the department will take over the next few years.”