New fire chief aims to tackle Edmonton's big problems amid increased calls for help
David Lazenby takes over as calls for service soar 60% over four years
Edmonton's new fire chief says he is ready to lead more than 1,300 staff in a growing city as calls to respond to the drug poisoning crisis, homelessness and deliberately set fires continue to soar.
David Lazenby has worked with the Edmonton Fire Rescue Services for two years and got the top job on Jan. 2 after being acting fire chief since last May.
Lazenby, originally from England and having worked for 14 years at Ontario stations as a deputy chief and fire chief, said he noticed the gravity of the issues when he got to Edmonton.
"It's just a much bigger problem. I've described it as being more akin to some of the experiences I had in the U.K. in terms of deliberately set fires and, and things like that," Lazenby said in an interview with CBC News this week.
"I think some of it maybe is down to people's lifestyle or circumstances and the survival needs that they may have in terms of warming fires, cooking fires."
He's confident that firefighters and EFRS staff are equipped for the work.
"I'm incredibly proud of our staff because they do an amazing job and often in trying and challenging circumstances. So I think the level of care and service that we provide Edmontonians is beyond anything I've ever seen."Lazenby takes over from former chief Joe Zatylny who is a deputy managing director at the Alberta Emergency Management Agency.
Calls for service soar
Overall calls to the Edmonton fire department — that includes 911 medical emergencies and fires — jumped 60 per cent from 54,157 in 2020 to 86,669 in 2024, the EFRS says.
More than half the calls the fire department receives are for medical emergencies.
Calls to medical events went up 50 per cent in the same period.
Responding to non-structural fires soared 235 per cent, from 2,618 calls in 2020 to 8,783 in 2024. and calls to structural fires went up nearly 30 per cent from 1,494 in 2020 to 1,924 in 2024.
Lazenby said he recognizes the stress and the impact the increase can have on mental health and well-being of fire service staff.
"Undoubtedly when you know you've had such an increase in call volumes, it's going to take its toll on anybody. And our people are special people, but they're still human at the end of the day."
He said having resources to address mental health and trauma is a priority.
"You know, when you're seeing lifeless bodies day after day, it is going to take its toll even on even the most hardened and experienced of firefighter."
Firehalls top priority
Edmonton has 31 fire stations with three new ones in the process of being designed or built.
Walker Fire Station has an approved budget of $1.14 million and is in the concept phase.
Wellington Fire Station is also in the design phase, with an approved budget of $1.9 million.
The $29 million Blatchford Fire Station is being built and will eventually replace the current Fire Station 8.
Lazenby said one of the challenges over the next few years will be adding enough fire stations to meet the growing population in neighbourhoods in the south, southwest and northeast parts of the city.
"We need to make sure that we're a fire service that can provide for all of those people, hopefully two million people," he said.
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Coun. Sarah Hamilton said her Ward sipiwiyiniw in the southwest needs at least two fire stations now.
"I hear from residents all the time about how it's driving their insurance costs and housing costs," Hamilton said in a text message to CBC News. "Firehalls are an important, but less discussed part of keeping housing and cost of living affordable in our growing city."
Despite the hurdles and challenges, Lazenby said he has a soft spot for Edmonton.
"I like the lack of pretension. I just like the down-to-earthness," he said of Edmontonians.
Along with the people of Edmonton, he's also a fan of the Oilers.
"I started my Canadian fire service career in Brantford — a special place I would like to think in Edmontonians' heart — Wayne [Gretzky's] birthplace. I was fortunate enough to meet Walter, his father, who was a good friend of the Brantford Fire Department where I worked," he said.
"So I think it was always destined to end up in Edmonton, and I'm fortunate that I have."
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