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Former fire chief of Barriere faces two child pornography charges

The former fire chief of Barriere is facing two charges related to child pornography. AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File

The former fire chief of Barriere is facing two charges related to child pornography.

Allan Kirkwood, 62, was arrested on Oct. 8 and on Friday was charged with one count of possessing child pornography and one count of importing and distributing child pornography.

The BC Integrated Child Exploitation Unit (BC ICE) started their investigation in August 2016 after receiving several reports from the US National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children and the Canadian National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre.

On Oct. 4, BC ICE along with several RCMP units executed search warrants at four Barriere/Clearwater area locations.

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Following their investigation, Kirkwood was arrested and released with conditions that limited his access to children and the Internet.

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Kirkwood, who resigned as fire chief in October, won admiration for his work helping the southern Interior community through the devastation of the McLure wildfire in 2003 that destroyed a lumber mill, eight other businesses and 72 homes.

WATCH MORE: Back in 2013 Global News spoke with former fire chief Allan Kirkwood about how the community of Barriere was rebuilding after a fire claimed most of the town in July of 2003.

Click to play video: 'Archive: Barriere ten years after devastating fire'
Archive: Barriere ten years after devastating fire

BC ICE said in a statement there is currently no evidence suggesting any local children were directly victimized by the accused.

Barriere Mayor Virginia Smith said the community of 1,700 has been shaken by the allegations, but the local volunteer fire department remains strong.

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Kirkwood’s next court appearance is set for Dec. 8 in Kamloops, B.C.

~ with files from Canadian Press

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