Two Nova Scotia fire chiefs discharged from volunteer duties after fire truck crash

Two Nova Scotia fire chiefs have lost their volunteer posts after municipal officials found they were not being truthful when explaining what happened after the fire truck they were in struck an injured snowmobiler who later died.

In a statement released this week, Cumberland County council found that fire Chief Jerrold Cotton and acting Chief Andrea Bishop had breached the municipality’s code of conduct, saying the pair repeatedly claimed their truck did not strike the 28-year-old victim last Friday.

Council learned that emergency responders were called to help the snowmobiler after he crashed his machine on Wyvern Road south of Collingwood Corner — and he was hit by the fire truck as he was receiving help.

As well, council found that after Cotton was asked to step down pending an investigation, he was spotted driving a fire truck on Monday as he and Bishop responded to a medical assistance call.

A report submitted to council said the pair should have known their actions were “inappropriate in the extreme” and displayed “extremely poor judgment.”

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On Wednesday, council also banned the two from entering the Collingwood & District Volunteer Fire Department.

No charges have been laid and the RCMP are investigating, having already seized the fire truck and the victim’s snowmobile.

Attempts to reach Cotton and Bishop for comment were unsuccessful.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 28, 2025.