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FIRE CHIEFS TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT:

FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES FACE PRECARIOUS FUTURE

Ottawa – December 5, 2022 – A new survey released by the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) details the stark realities facing Canada’s 3200 fire departments: diminishing numbers of career and volunteer firefighters, increased emergency call volumes, mounting training and equipment costs and the reclassification of firefighting into the top tier of carcinogenic professions are creating a perfect storm challenging Canada’s fire, all-hazard and emergency response capacity.

With 35 fire chiefs representing provincial, territorial and national affiliate organizations gathering in Ottawa next week to meet with government officials, they will collectively be calling for action to alleviate the precarious conditions the firefighting community is facing in this country.

Among the survey highlights:

• Diminishing Numbers: In 2016, there were a reported 156,000 firefighters; in 2022 this number fell to 126,000 (of this, 90,000 are volunteers)
• Increasing Call Volumes: Of the 2 million calls responded to over a 12-month period: 50% were for medical emergency, 30% for all-hazard response, 10% for climate emergencies, and only 10% for fire suppression
• Aging Equipment and Rising Costs: 41% of Canada’s fire departments have had to defer training and new equipment for more than two years, due to fiscal pressures
• High Reliance on Volunteers: Of the $5.6B in fire department expenditures, only 15% is attributed to the more than 2,000 fire departments that are volunteer (located mainly in rural areas)
• Risks of Death and Injury:  Over a 12-month period, 629 fire departments reported: 2 active line of duty deaths, 56 deaths due to illness associated with the profession, 2 suicides. In addition, there were also 600 profession-related injuries

Call to Action

The CAFC will impress upon the Federal Government recommendations in three key areas: protecting and retaining Canada’s supply of firefighters and response capacity, reducing community risk and improving the government’s ability to address these problems. Short and long-term solutions are required to address these challenges and keep communities safe. Among their calls for action:

• Reinstate the Joint Emergency Preparedness Program’s to buy 600 new fire trucks, refurbish 800 fire stations (required to house the trucks and provide separate quarters for female fire fighters) and modernize 600 communication systems
• Increase the volunteer firefighter tax credit from $3K to $10K to help retain volunteer firefighters that are so integral to rural communities
• Support Bill C-224 to develop a firefighter cancer framework and maintain federal commitments to first responder mental health. 
• Consider formalizing the role of fire departments in the health system 
• Ensure supply of affordable housing is sprinklered; ban the sale and use of consumer fireworks
• Ensure that consideration is given to the recommendations of the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council

Quotes:

“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, Red Deer AB

“Firefighting is inherently dangerous. Repeated exposure to trauma is associated with 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,  Fire Chief Oakville, Ontario, CAFC Secretary of the Board

“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 sprinklers to avoiding consumer fireworks. Everyone has a role”

- Keri Martens, Deputy Fire Chief, Canmore, AB, CAFC Vice President

“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, Fire Chief, Grand Falls-Windsor NFLD, co-chair of CAFC Census

“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 ”

- Kevin Lefebvre, Fire Chief, Leduc County AB, CAFC co-chair of Census and Board Member

“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, Fire Chief in Amherst Nova Scotia, CAFC Board Member

“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, Deputy Chief, Levis Fire Department, Quebec, 2^nd Vice President, CAFC

“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 Camrose, AB

About the CAFC

Founded in 1909, the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) is an independent, non-profit organization representing approximately 3,200 fire departments across Canada. CAFC’s mission is to promote the highest standard of public safety in an ever changing and increasingly complex world to ensure the protection of the public through leadership, advocacy and active collaboration with key stakeholders.

For more information:

Elissa Freeman for the CAFC

Tel: 416-565-5605

Elissafreeman@gmail.com