Drew Boys becomes the Fire Chief on February 9th

By Gazette Staff

February 3rd, 2026

BURLINGTON, ON

Burlington has appointed Deputy Fire Chief Drew Boys as its next Fire Chief, effective February 9, 2026, following the upcoming retirement of Fire Chief Karen Roche.

Deputy Chief Boys brings more than 20 years of experience in the fire sector, including senior leadership roles with Brampton Fire and Emergency Services, Oakville Fire, and, most recently, Burlington Fire, where he currently serves as Deputy Fire Chief.

Drew Boys – new Fire Chief for Burlington

In his current role, Deputy Chief Boys has worked closely on projects such as Simultaneous Notification, Next Generation 9-1-1, the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS), and the modernization of Burlington’s primary and backup 9-1-1 Fire Communications Centres. All of these projects contribute to improving efficiencies and modernizing fire services.

Deputy Chief Boys serves as the sponsor of the City’s Enterprise Asset Management System (EAMS), contributing to technology projects that support data-driven decision-making and service delivery. He also participates in regional, provincial, and national committees, including the Joint Emergency Services Operational Advisory Group (JESOAG), the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs (OAFC), and the Public Safety Broadband Network (PSBN) Innovation Alliance.