Veteran Brockville, Kingston fire chief passes away
Harold Tulk, the former fire chief of Kingston and Brockville, has passed away at the age of 76.
Tulk died suddenly on September 19 at Brockville General Hospital
Tulk was a veteran fire fighter for 42 years in Ontario, gradually working his way up the ranks to command fire departments in Brockville and, later, Kingston where he spent over a decade leading the city’s fire department in the years following amalgamation. He was appointed Kingston’s fire chief in November 2001 and served in that role until his retirement in December 2012.
The City of Kingston will pass a motion of condolence at its October 1 meeting, noting Tulk “played an important role in the merging of three separate fire departments during the amalgamation of the former Pittsburgh and Kingston Townships and the City of Kingston.”
He also oversaw the construction and opening of Kingston Fire & Rescue’s state of the art training centre off Terry Fox Drive in the city’s north end.
The centrepiece of the $7.8 million facility is a six-storey ‘burn building’ to train the department’s career and volunteer fire fighters.
Tulk also launched a comprehensive fire service review during his tenure to meet fire response standards and community expectations.
His staunch defence of the department’s operational needs, future risks and fire hall locations were often at odds with councils of the day.
Tulk cut an imposing figure when he showed up in full uniform at Kingston city council meetings with his commanding presence, booming voice and sharp wit, and seldom shied away from speaking his mind to politicians.
Visitation will take place Saturday, September 28 at the Barclay Funeral Home at 137 Pearl Street East in Brockville beginning at 11 a.m. A Mutual Aid Fire Fighter’s Service will follow in the Chapel at 12:40 p.m.. The funeral will be held in the Chapel at 1 p.m., according to the funeral home’s website.
Tulk is survived by his wife Susan, children Mark and Lindsay, and three grandchildren.
The family is asking donation’s in his memory be made to the Rotary Club of Gananoque or the Ontario SPCA Leeds Grenville.