Province provides support for firefighters, search and rescue groups
One-time grants of $10,000 available
BIBLE HILL - Recognizing that fundraising has been a difficult task the last few years as COVID forced the cancellation and postponement of many traditional events and campaigns, coupled with rising costs in many areas, the Province of Nova Scotia is responding to support volunteer firefighter departments.
Ground search and rescue groups as well as First Nation Fire Departments were also part of a recent announcement in Bible Hill, Colchester County, that the province is investing almost $3.5 million to provide one-time grants of $10,000 to more than 340 organizations.
“We know these groups have faced challenges fundraising since the pandemic and, these days, we’re all feeling the impacts of the raising costs of prices … no one is immune,” Truro-bible Hill-millbrooksalmon River MLA Dave Ritcey said while referring to the groups’ members as “unsung heroes” who are the “backbone” of so many Nova Scotian communities, especially rural ones.
“Whether it’s responding to an alarm, opening a comfort centre or helping vulnerable Nova Scotians access safe shelter during a storm, these steadfast volunteers are always quick to respond when emergencies happen.”
Ritcey said the organizations do not have to apply for the grant money.
“The funds will be dispersed directly to eligible organizations in the coming weeks,” he said.
A release to accompany the announcement stated the recipients will decide how best to spend the money to serve their organization. Bible Hill Volunteer Fire Brigade Chief Joey Bisson, who spoke during the announcement, said in an interview with Saltwire Network they don’t have a plan in place for the money with just receiving word about it being available, but it’s certainly welcomed.
“I'm sure it'll be put towards operational needs and tasks,” he said while talking about the needs coinciding with departments being extremely busy over the last year.
“Over the past year, departments in our county experienced an increase of over 60 per cent in emergency calls from the previous year,” Bisson said. “In some cases, departments have more than doubled their average call rates. With the increase in volume departments are experiencing, it means an increase in vehicle maintenance, fuel consumption, equipment purchases and repairs … it’s becoming far more difficult for departments to navigate their respective budgets with the ongoing increases in costs.”
Bisson said fires are fought differently these days and with the new ways comes education and advanced equipment which costs money.
“So in order to keep firefighters safe, we need to increase or maintain our purchasing,” he said.
Municipality of the County of Colchester Deputy Mayor Geoff Stewart also spoke at the announcement. He talked about having a first-hand appreciation for what the departments and their volunteers’ needs are.
“Having served in the fire service (split between Truro and Brookfield) for 25 plus years, I know very well the dedication and commitment that is made by the members and their families in serving to protect our communities,” Stewart said. “Today’s funding announcement will go a long way in helping various departments and brigades across this province. It’s especially important for the smaller rural services who have a lower tax base and still encounter many of the financial pressures.”
Stewart talked about Colchester having many of those rural departments.
“We have brigades throughout the whole municipality and they all have different levels of revenue sources, so this will be great for every one of them,” he said.
Greg Jones, President of the Fire Service Association of Nova Scotia, also took the podium.
“Since the spring of 2020, as many other Nova Scotians have, we’ve had many challenges we’ve had to deal with,” Jones said. “In the fire service, the challenges we have had to deal with was to find more ways to raise funds to support not only what we need to do to support our communities, but also what we need to move forward and have the new equipment to make it work.
“This will ease the financial burdens and shortfalls and provide the volunteer fire services with the ability to maintain their operational needs, purchase what needs to be purchased now, while also providing a positive boost from the support.”
Jones said the association has enjoyed good collaborations with the province over the years.
“This is another example of that,” he said.
While they didn’t take the podium during the announcement, Chief Fire Marshal Doug Mackenzie and Deputy Marshal Jamie Young were on-hand in support. Mackenzie talked about the funding going towards brave and dedicated men and women volunteers.
“Who give up their time; they're getting out of bed in the middle of the night, going to a call, and then going home and getting their kids ready for school. Then they’re going to work themselves or they're having to leave their workplace (to answer a call),” he said, noting it can be hard on their regular work and not all bosses are as supportive as others. “But, fortunately in Nova Scotia, the majority of employers are, and it allows the volunteers to support and better the communities they live in.”