Fire department struggling to attract volunteers

Chief Dave Cunliffe says the Hamilton Fire Department is having a difficult time attracting and retaining volunteer firefighters.

“It is not something (in which) 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-aweek 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.

The plan also includes renovating the Binbrook station that will have a composite staff providing 24-7 service by 2026. The budget allocates $1.1 million in 2023 and 2024 in capital costs for the renos, 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. He said staff are in the community actively recruiting people to join the service.

Councillors have approved the 2023 capital budget, and are scheduled to discuss the operating budget throughout February.