Council requests report on regional fire service
Niagara Falls council has asked staff to report back on the possibility of regionalizing fire services.
After Niagara Regional Chairman Alan Caslin updated local politicians about regional council activities during their meeting this week, Coun. Joyce Morocco asked whether the Region has ever considered taking over fire services, and for there to be one fire chief to oversee all 12 Niagara municipalities.
“We would still keep all our stations and all our firefighters, but there would actually just be that core service from there,” she said.
Caslin said it’s not something the Region is currently looking at, “however we are looking at all services that make sense to amalgamate, like the bus service, like everything else that we’re trying to pull together in that regard.”
“If it makes sense to pull together, if there’s savings, if there’s efficiencies that we can gain for taxpayers — let’s face it, we’re all working for one taxpayer, if that works then absolutely, let’s have a look at it.” Morocco’s motion to ask staff to report back was approved by council.
“Just a report. No decisions,” said Mayor Jim Diodati.
Meanwhile, Caslin said Niagara continues to look into the possibility of amalgamating emergency dispatch services in Niagara.
“It’s something that’s right in the centre of our radar,” he said.
“Your regional councillor, Coun. (Bob) Gale, has brought that forward on a number of occasions.”
Coun. Wayne Campbell said “with today’s technology,” he finds it “very, very difficult” to understand why police, fire and paramedics all have to attend every 911 call.
“It’s my understanding here in Niagara Falls that almost 50 per cent of the response for the fire department has nothing to do with fires,” he said.
“I think that the Region could take direction on this in terms of creating that information hub to be able to communicate to these different organizations exactly what’s required when a 911 call comes into play and we would all save in the big picture.”