Cape Breton volunteer fire department shuts down due to lack of volunteers

The Tower Road Volunteer Fire Department in Glace Bay, N.S., is closing after struggling to find staff.

The department's chief and volunteers decided to relinquish the department's certificate and close the fire hall at a meeting this week, according to an official with Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

"The municipality has assigned the Glace Bay Volunteer Fire Department and the Birch Grove Volunteer Fire Department to cover off the area," said spokesperson Christina Lamey.

Tower Road's two fire trucks and other support vehicles have already been redeployed to the other two fire departments, she said. 

Lamey said residents in Tower Road will continue to receive adequate service despite the closure of the fire department.

The head of the association that represents Cape Breton regional fire chiefs said he's also confident fire and emergency service won't be disrupted.

"I think those departments work together all the time anyway, given the proximity they have to one another," said Rod Beresford.

"I believe CBRM will provide them with the resources they need to provide the extra services," he said.

Beresford said the Tower Road department closed because the chief and volunteers concluded they could no longer effectively serve the community. 

Attracting volunteers is an issue for all volunteer fire departments in the area due to the level of commitment required, he said. 

"There's all the unscheduled time at 2 in the morning or 3 in the afternoon that you just can't plan for, and just the inherent danger of it," Beresford said. 

He said a meeting was held last summer to discuss possible incentives for people to join volunteer fire departments. That led to the creation of a committee tasked with creating solutions, he said. 

"I'll know more hopefully in another couple of months because we're going to be meeting soon and I think everybody's excited about it," Beresford said. "It's been talked about for a long time."