Fire fighters respond to a blaze at the public works yard in 2019. (Glenn Hicks/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Fire funding

P.A. needs two new halls, response times too long: Fire Fighters Association

Sep 29, 2020 | 8:25 AM

The Prince Albert Fire Fighters Association says two new fire halls, one on either side of the city, are needed to bring response times in line with national standards.

Association president, Jeff Reeder brought the request to city council Monday. A formal written letter has also been sent.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the organization whose standards and guidelines govern fire departments in Canada and the United States, stipulates fire fighters should arrive at the emergency scene within five minutes and 20 seconds, 90 per cent of the time.

The current response time in the southeast section of Prince Albert is more than double that, Reeder told council.

“By responding quickly to a fire, fire fighters can keep a small incident small,” he said. “When responses take more than the prescribed timeframe, losses escalate substantially, resulting in a greater loss of life and property.”

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Prince Albert Fire Fighters Assocation president Jeff Reeder listens to a question from council. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

He also referenced multiple studies completed between 1985 and 2008 that concluded Prince Albert needed three fire stations.

“Without changing the response protocols or adding fire halls as prescribed by the previous studies, the lives and property of the citizens of Prince Albert are at risk,” he said.

Reeder explained new equipment would not be required, as current equipment and staffing could be divided between the two halls. Nine fire fighters, split between two stations would result in better coverage, although it would still fall below the NFPA standard, he continued.

“Bringing each shift to 12 fire fighters would be a major step towards safety and meeting adequate staffing levels,” Reeder said.

Council unanimously approved forwarding the association’s letter to 2021 budget deliberations later this fall. However it’s unlikely there will be any major funding for a new hall next year.

Speaking to paNOW after the meeting, Mayor Greg Dionne said he was supportive of setting aside land for the new facility, but not of funding its construction at this point.

“We find a plot of land that we’re going to put it on and put a sign up, ‘we’ll commit in 2023,'” he said. “But today we don’t have the funds, we’re still fighting COVID.”

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom