2022 Census Report - Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs

Print Page | Report Abuse | Sign In | Join

Great Canadian Fire Census 2022-Results

Veuillez appuyer ici pour la version en français.

The Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC), in partnership with the Answer the Call committee, the Data committee, and the National Advisory Council (NAC), is pleased to announce the results of the 2022 Great Canadian Fire Census. This Census describes the state of the fire and emergency sector, and is the most complete up to date data set known.

As you may remember, this year, we expanded the Census to include all departments in Canada, and expanded the questionnaire to include questions on key issues such as firefighter and consumer safety, call volumes, and expenditures on training and equipment. A total of 629 departments across all types (volunteer, composite, and career) submitted data this year. Thank you to everyone who participated.

Read the press release here
Read the written report here
Read about the Census at GR Week 2022

Read the table of statistics
Read related media and videos here

Read the 2021 Census Results here

Or watch the illustrated graphic below:

Here is a snapshot of the key findings:

	Estimates	Percentages
Total number of firefighters	126,000	.
Number of volunteer firefighters	90,000	71% of total
Number of career firefighters	36,000	29% of total
Number of vacant positions	15, 000	12%
Number of women firefighters	14,000	11%
Number of firefighters over 50	31,000	25%
Number of departments reporting calls due to consumer fireworks	600	18%
Number of departments reporting deaths or injuries in homes that could have been sprinklered	144	4%
Total number of calls	2,021,218	.
Percentage of calls related to fire suppression	7%	.
Percentage of calls related to extreme weather events	9.5%	.
Percentage of medical-related calls	44%	.
Total expenditures	$5,885,419,607	.
Number of departments that deferred purchases	1418	41%
Number of departments that deferred training	775	24%
Number of fire trucks needed	800	25%
Number of fire stations needed	600	18%
Number of departments who need new communications systems	600	18%

“The federal government has important levers to help address the future of fire and emergency services. We have developed recommendations sensitive to the fiscal climate and look forward to sharing them.” Ken McMullen, CAFC President, Chief of Emergency Services at Red Deer Fire Department, Alberta

“Fire Chiefs from coast to coast are willing to help the federal government and their provincial counterparts address challenges identified in the Census.” Greg Jones, CAFC Board Member, Fire Chief at Amherst Fire Department, Nova Scotia

“Firefighting is inherently dangerous. Repeated exposure to trauma is associated with a high risk of post-traumatic stress disorder. The CAFC is calling on the Federal Government to renew its investment in the sector and maintain its commitments to fire responder mental health.” Paul Boissonneault, CAFC Secretary of the Board, Fire Chief at Oakville Fire Department, Ontario

“With the convergence of the climate crisis, the healthcare crisis, and personnel shortage, we commend the recent climate adaptation strategy in recognizing the need for prevention, mitigation, and response. Reinvesting in a Joint Emergency Preparedness Type program would help to address this intent”. Keven Lefebvre, CAFC co-chair of Census and Board Member, Fire Chief at Leduc County Fire Services, Alberta

“We are losing too many firefighters to cancer and other presumptive illnesses, we need to ensure they have the best equipment, protection, and practices to keep them safe. We strongly commend and support Sherry Romanado’s Bill C-224 in this regard.” Richard Amnotte, 2nd CAFC Vice President, Deputy Chief at City of Levis Fire Department, Quebec

“There are important measures communities can take to reduce the pressures on the fire and emergency system from applying FireSmart principles to installing home fire sprinklers to avoiding consumer fireworks. Everyone has a role” Keri Martens, CAFC Vice President, Deputy Fire Chief at Canmore Fire Department, Alberta

“Increasing the volunteer firefighter tax credit is an important strategy for sending a clear message to nationally that their efforts in community protection are not taken for granted in this country”. Vince MacKenzie, Co-Chair of CAFC Census, Fire Chief at Grand Falls-Windsor Fire Department, Newfoundland and Labrador

“The results of the Great Canadian Fire Census are intended to help us take action. We are looking forward to sharing them with all Canadians”. Peter Krich, Chair of the CAFC National Advisory Council, Fire Chief at Camrose Fire Department, Alberta

Recommendations

What can be done to address this situation? The CAFC has offered recommendations to address the various issues identified through the report. They fall into three key areas:

A: Protect and Retain Canada’s Firefighters and Response Capacity

First, we need to protect and retain Canada’s supply of firefighters and their response capacity by:

Bring back a federal Joint Emergency Preparedness-type program to help restock and rebuild Canada’s supply of training and equipment.
Support Sherry Romanado’s Bill C224 for Firefighter Cancer
Support Gord John’s Bill C-201 to increase the volunteer firefighter tax credit.
Maintain the federal commitment to first responder mental health.

B: Reduce Risk of Fire and Emergency in Communities Nationally

Next, we need to reduce community risk:

There should be sprinklers in the new supply of affordable housing. These won’t replace firefighters, but they will give people a chance to evacuate. They will reduce the more than 144 deaths and injuries due to house fires in new residential construction that could have been sprinklered.
We can also FireSmart^TM homes and communities against wildfire risk. Fire Departments play an important role in this.
We can ban the sale and use of consumer fireworks. Fire departments in 600 communities had to respond to such calls. Fireworks should be left to professionals.
It is also essential that we pay special attention to these same issues in Indigenous Communities where organizations like the National Indigenous Fire Protection Council (NIFSC) notes the risk of death from fire is ten times worse than the national average.

C: Modernize Infrastructure and Government Machinery

Finally, given the number of issues, the CAFC has long advocated that Canada consider the formation of a National Fire Advisor and Administration, similar to that of the US Fire Administration. This would help in a whole of government approach to the fire sector. This may be especially feasible now given the new office of the Minister of Emergency Preparedness.

Read related media and videos here:

Watch Member of Parliament Sherry Romanado's SO31

recognizing CAFC for support of Bill C-224 Firefighter Cancer Framework

In Monday's speech on Fall Economic Statement Implementation, MP Gord Johns cites

the CAFC op-ed in The Hill Times re: Importance of Attracting and Retaining Volunteer Firefighters

Watch Member of Parliament Gord Johns table

Bill to Increase Volunteer Firefighter and Search and Rescue Tax Credit

Standing Committee on Health Meeting - December 13, 2022

CTV News: Canadian firefighters call for more support amid shortage
Read the article here

Global News: Chief says Hamilton ‘fortunate’ amid Canada-wide survey reporting diminishing firefighter numbers
Read the article here

If you have any questions contact Dr. Tina Saryeddine, CAFC Executive Director at 613-324-1078 or tsaryeddine@cafc.ca

	Edit This Favorite
Name:
Category:
Share:	Yes No, Keep Private

Edit This Favorite