Jim Sales steps down as Toronto fire chief, effective immediately

Toronto Fire Chief Jim Sales has stepped down,a departure that the city is calling "a mutual decision."

Sales has been on personal leave for the past few months, and his resignation is effective immediately.

Speaking to CBC News on Friday, city spokesperson Jackie DeSouza said the fire chiefand the city came to a mutual agreement on Fridaythat Sales would leave his post.

In a release issued Friday, the city creditedSales with"modernizing" the service through the use of technology, and changingits fire prevention model from a "reactive" to a "proactive" one.

"I would like to extend my personal thanks to Jim for his work," deputy city manager JohnLiveysaid in the release.

Sales becamechief of the service in July 2012 after working with fire departments in Edmonton,Markhamand Barrie in various roles.

The announcement makes no mention of allegations of in-fighting at the departmentand a difficult relationship between Sales and members of the Toronto Firefighters' Association.

The president of the association, Frank Ramagnano,told CBC News that Sales's credibility had long beenquestioned by some of the union's members.

"I can tell you it was an extremely rocky start with the fire chief when he did come in. There was severe budget cuts to Toronto Fire Service We still lost 96 operational firefighters under his watch.

When he first became chief, Ramagnano said Sales visited all of the city's fire stations touting the need for the service to grow.

"Then about six months later he's in front of council saying that we can cut. So that was extremely frustrating for our members,"Ramagnano said.

City spokesperson Wynna Brown told CBC News in a written statement she was aware of various rumours and allegations "circulating from people who are not involved in this matter."

"Those rumours are untrue," Brown said.

In the meantime,Deputy Chief Matthew Pegg will continue in his role as interim fire chief while the city looks for a permanent replacement.