Structure fires spiked in Hamilton’s second pandemic year
Hamilton firefighters responded to a spike in burning buildings during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last year, there were 295 structure fires compared to 231 in 2020. Multiple-alarm blazes were also up to 31 from 21 the year before.
That's a concerning trend," Fire Chief Dave Cunliffe told councillors during a budget session Thursday.
The fires didn't favour a specific type of target, hitting old and new stock alike, including highrises, commercial and industrial sites, Cunliffe said.
What is even more disturbing is the causes of these fires," he added.
Careless smoking and unattended cooking are the top causes of fires, but electrical malfunctions are gaining ground, Cunliffe noted.
That could be because more people are at home during the pandemic, including youngsters, which has led to more use of electronics, more power bars and extension cords.
Some of this circuitry is being overloaded," Cunliffe said.
This year, the fire department is asking council for a 4.5 per cent budget increase for a proposed spending plan of $97,526,450.
Firefighting falls under the umbrella of the healthy and safe communities department, which is home to an array of services on the front lines of the pandemic, including public health, long-term care, paramedics and street outreach.
The department is asking council for a 5.4 per cent hike - or $13.7 million more - to bring its levy-supported funding to $269 million in 2022.
An overall spending plan of $734 million is to also draw on other major funding sources, including $332 million from the province.
Anticipated pandemic-related costs of about $80 million are expected to be funded by the Ontario government or city reserve dollars, said Angie Burden, the city's new director of healthy and safe communities.
I don't think any of us expected that this pandemic would go on so long," said Burden, praising the resiliency" and dedication" of staff.
Last year, between 128 and 216 public health staff shifted from regular duties to better support the city's response to COVID-19, she noted.
Right before the holidays, as many as 250 workers from other divisions and departments were redeployed to help respond to the latest Omicron-driven wave.
Currently, more than 100 remain in those temporary roles to backstop the pandemic-occupied public health department.
Amid the ever-shifting workforce, core health services have been on the back burner with resources poured into COVID vaccinations, testing and outbreaks.
It has hit programs right across public health services," Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, the city's medical officer of health, told councillors.
That includes school vaccination programs for diseases, including the human papillomavirus, mental-health services, addiction initiatives and food inspections.
We can't go back and inspect a high-risk food premise that we missed in 2021 or may miss in 2022," Richardson said.
These public health services are fundamentally important" Coun. said Maureen Wilson, pointing to the importance of provincial support.
And it is the equivalent to our surgical backlog," Wilson said.
Council will discuss the department's preliminary budget further with talks over the city's overall 2022 spending plan scheduled through March.
Teviah Moro is a reporter at The Spectator. tmoro@thespec.com