Union: more firefighters urgently needed
Draft city budget doesn't include increase in fire-hall staff beyond two new dispatchers
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The president of the union local representing city firefighters says more members are urgently needed.
Isaac Comandante, manager of emergency and response consulting services with Behr Energy Services Ltd., introduces his colleagues Jeff Carlisle, left, and Rick McCullough, centre, during a city municipal services committee meeting Monday about their report that came with 30 recommended changes to the fire department. - Shane Magee/NNSL photo |
Growing the department from 24 full-time firefighters to 32 was a recommendation in a 10-year plan drafted by consultants for the city and presented again to councillors at Monday's committee meeting.
But so far the change hasn't been included in the draft 2017 city budget, meaning the increase would be more than a year off unless councillors are able to find room for it next week during deliberations.
Outside council chambers Monday, president of International Association of Firefighters local 2890 Chris Bittrolff said he believes that's what council should do.
"We are extremely disappointed that there hasn't even been some motion toward increasing those levels, those numbers, considering we are having all these shortcomings and the complexity of the issue," he said.
Behr Energy Services Ltd. discovered burnout and fatigue among fire department members when developing its 10-year department master plan, which included 30 recommendations for changes.
While Bittrolff understands there are economic realities facing the city, he said addressing the staffing issue is "extremely urgent."
Increasing the full-time firefighter ranks to 32 is projected to cost $800,000 per year. Bittrolff was one of 10 firefighters observing the meeting in the public gallery, most wearing red union shirts. Deputy chief Gerda Groothuizen was also there.
"If it is going to be considered, it has to be put forward by council," said Dennis Marchiori, the city's director of public safety about the idea of increasing the ranks.
That could happen next week during budget deliberations. Without spending cuts, the addition would likely result in a property tax increase.
The draft budget so far only plans to add two emergency dispatchers at the fire hall.
"We knew that we needed more dispatchers for sure," Marchiori said.
The department appears to be struggling with its paid on-call firefighter program, who are people usually working in other careers but respond to emergency calls when more firefighters are needed.
While the city wants to have around 30 paid on-call members, yet only had 12 to 15 at the time the report carried out. He said there are only six who are of a qualified level to support career firefighters.
"That puts an incredible burden with our current staff," Bittrolff said.
The department appears to be struggling to retain paid on-call members, with 20 enrolling in the program last year but 14 leaving. Only one transitioned to full-time firefighter from the program. The master plan report recommends changing the qualifications required for paid on-call members to try to maintain members.
The department, which also operates the ambulance service, has been facing a rising call volume. More than 80 per cent of its calls are medical.
Coun. Julian Morse asked the consultants at the Monday meeting whether there was merit in splitting medical services from firefighting services.
"You can certainly separate them, but you're not going to gain any efficiencies from my experience and in my opinion," answered Jeff Carlisle, one of the consultants who drafted the plan with Behr.
Some of the discussion at the committee meeting was "alarming and concerning," Bittrolff said about splitting off medical services.
"To separate fire from ambulance is not in the best interest of the public, it's not the most cost-effective model and it doesn't address all the complexities of how we operate," he said.
Another aspect of the medical services that arose was the fee charged when ambulances pick up or drop off a patient for medevac flights. Coun. Niels Konge said the city loses money when dealing with these transfers. A flat fee of $475 plus $75 per hour should the ambulance have to wait is charged to the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority each time its needed.
The consultant report didn't include a recommendation to increase the fee, last changed in 2008.
"It makes absolutely no sense for our taxpayers to pay for that," Konge said.
