Dozens more firefighters, new stations needed, says review of Moncton Fire Department

A review of Moncton's fire department calls for hiring dozens more firefighters, opening a sixth fire station and relocating three stations.

The Emergency Management Group's review, commissioned by the city and presented to council Monday, has 64 recommendations. City staff estimate implementing them could cost $200 million over 15 years.

The report comes after years of the union representing the city's firefighters raising the alarm about staffing levels barely increasing since the 1970s as the city's population and skyline have grown.

Jeremy Quillian, president of Moncton Firefighters Association IAFF Local 999, said the recommendations could address the stress and workload firefighters face. 

"We'll take any staff that we can get right now because at the end of the day, it will mean better services for the citizens of Moncton," Quillian told reporters Monday evening.

There are 22 firefighters on duty per shift, below the 38 a National Fire Protection Association standard says should be part of an initial response to a highrise fire. The report would increase the city's staffing to 37 per shift. 

Including administrative and other roles, the recommendations would increase the department to 200 positions from 124.

Fire Chief Conrad Landry said the department will spend the coming months examining the recommendations.

"What we've been looking for is what's the road map of the fire department for the next 10 years, and we now have it," Landry said. 

One major recommendation is to add a sixth fire station within three to six years. That would mean adding 40 firefighters along with additional fire trucks and equipment.

Another recommendation calls for relocating the St. George Boulevard, Brandon Street and Botsford Street fire stations within 10 years. 

St. George, with the fire training tower, and Brandon are described as insufficient. The report says Botsford, the newest station built in 2008, can't be expanded and has safety issues.

The report says a new station can range in cost from $5 million to $20 million.

The report, which spans more than 300 pages, paints a picture of a department that's struggled to keep up with the city's population and issues like drugs and homelessness. 

It says the number of calls for service "have grown exponentially," reaching 9,135 last year. That's up by 1,300 from 2023.

Medical calls accounted for almost 60 per cent of calls between 2021 and 2023. The report says "medical and social-service type calls are on the rise."

One recommendation is for the department to use smaller medical response trucks to reduce wear and tear on larger vehicles during medical responses, an idea several councillors Monday suggested could be an immediate priority.

The city's social issues are reflected in other ways in the report.

A description of the Brandon Street station notes it is beside a shelter and says the station's landscaped areas were "littered with drug paraphernalia and needles." The report says the city installed fencing at the station due to vandalism and thefts.

Elsewhere the report says security concerns have led to some staff being unwilling to transfer to certain stations. 

"The impact of social issues on the folks here is massive," Coun. Shawn Crossman said Monday.

The review also describes the department as behind on building fire safety inspections compared to requirements set by the province's fire marshal. Despite increasing inspections, the report says the department's workload and structure make it more reactive.

"The importance of a proactive fire inspection program cannot be overstated, particularly in light of the ongoing challenges posed by workload constraints and staffing shortages within the [Moncton fire department]," the report states.

"A well organized, adequately resourced fire prevention program ensures compliance with safety regulations and plays a critical role in reducing fire-related injuries, deaths, and property damage."

Several councillors who spoke Monday welcomed the report's recommendations and thanked firefighters watching in council chambers.

Coun. Charles Leger said he wished council had the report before a recent presentation by city staff that suggested Moncton may need to raise its tax rate in 2026 for the first time in years. 

At the time, city staff alluded to significant costs looming, including the fire review and downtown infrastructure. 

"This is really daunting," Leger said of the fire report, suggesting it may mean the city can't hold its tax rate steady. 

He called for staff to return to council in September with more details about what could be prioritized in next year's budget. 

Coun. Daniel Bourgeois made a motion, which passed unanimously, calling for staff to present priority items in September and an implementation plan by the end of the year with costs, timelines and pros and cons of the recommendations.

The fire chief said a few recommendations, such as a new division chief overseeing fire prevention, are already in progress.