Hamilton fire service struggles to recruit and retain volunteer firefighters
Hamilton Fire Chief Dave Cunliffe says the service is having a difficult time attracting and retaining volunteer firefighters.
It is not something we are alone," Cunliffe told councillors during a recent budget meeting. It's happening all over the province."
In 2021, the Hamilton service recruited 48 volunteer firefighters, while in 2022, it added 31. He said there are over 40 vacancies in nine stations across the city, predominately in rural and suburban areas. Cunliffe said volunteers go through the same vigorous training as full-time firefighters as they are required to meet National Fire Protection Association standards, but they also hold down full-time jobs, which can suffer when they are required to respond at a moment's notice.
The 10-year fire service plan has identified boosting the volunteer compliment from 25 to 40 positions from 2021 to 2027 over eight stations, including Binbrook, Mount Hope, Ancaster, Waterdown, Greensville, Lynden, Rockton and Freelton.
In Winona, the plan includes transitioning to a composite fire service with five full-time staff for a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week service. By 2024, it is projected to have 15 full-time staff. The budget allocates $1.75 million in 2023 and $1.6 million in 2024 according to the fire service plan.
The plan also includes renovating the Binbrook station that will have a composite staff providing 24-hour a day, seven-days a week service, by 2026. The budget allocates $1.1 million in 2023 and 2024 in capital costs for the renovations, and $1.5 million in 2024 and $1.6 million in 2026 for staff and equipment.
Cunliffe said as Hamilton continues to grow, the fire service needs to adjust to the changing demographics from a predominately rural area to a bedroom community.
Cunliffe said staff are in the community actively recruiting people to join the service.
It's certainly a challenge," he said.
Meanwhile, the service is in the fourth year of its 10-year fire plan, which was approved by council in 2019. Cunliffe said the service is focusing on a new station in Waterdown that will be shared with the police service. He said the service is looking to identify a location and solidifying" a land deal, with the intention of building a new station as soon as possible" with the expectation it will be ready in 2025. It will be a composite station - volunteer and full-time firefighters - operating 24-hours, seven days a week.
Another area that is in need of upgraded service is in upper Stoney Creek, which has experienced significant growth," said Cunliffe. With the expectation that the Elfrida growth district will move forward, the current composite fire station on Isaac Brock and Mud Street needs to be improved to handle the calls.
Cunliffe said there are two options to consider: renovate the Isaac Brock station if Elfrida is approved, or relocate the service to a new location along Rymal Road and share the building with Hamilton water.
In the fire service plan for the Upper Stoney Creek station, the goal is to design and build a revamped station and have it operating by 2025, where it will have 25 volunteers and 15 full-time staff.
The plan budgets $8.4 million in 2023 and $1.9 million in capital dollars for the renovations.
For both the Waterdown and upper Stoney Creek operating budget for staff and equipment, the plan allocates $1.5 million in 2022 and $2.1 million in 2025.
The 10-year plan forecasts an additional 20 full-time staff and a multi-purpose urban pumper truck for the West Hamilton/Dundas existing fire station by 2027.
The fire services has budgeted in 2023 $8.7 million in gross funding, with a net spending of $688,000 to improve several of its aging facilities, modernizing its decontamination gear, and creating gender-neutral washrooms. The rest of the funding is covered through development charges.
Councillors have approved the 2023 capital budget, and are scheduled to discuss the operating budget throughout February.