On July 13, 2107, the Deep River Fire Chief released a damning report on the irresponsible behaviour of our “professional” firefighters, who object to wearing pagers and pressure each other not to receive training.
The Fire Chief’s report reveals that these factors, in addition to the failure of the arbitration system to provide any relief to the exorbitant costs of our ineffective fire protection service, were a few of the reasons for the Town’s decision to allow the firefighting staff to be reduced to 5, and to place them all on a single shift to facilitate supervision. The reductions were achieved, by not renewing contract staff nor back-filling positions of those who have retired or gone on sick leave. Now there are about about half the number of firefighters the town has typically had.
Read the News Release and Fire Chief’s full report.
This bold decision of council, gives up an illusion of safety by not having the firehall staffed 24/7 as in the past. Shortly before this decision, 24/7 coverage was not always being provided due to staff shortages, and the firefighters’ union had begun fear-mongering about an unstaffed firehall, even though firehalls are typically unstaffed most of the time in small communities.
My commentary, published in the NRT:
Abandon the Illusion
Bravo to the Deep River Council for taking the bold step to abandon costly practices in the Fire Department that for decades only provided an illusion of safety.
Shame on the firefighters’ union for fear-mongering about an unstaffed fire hall. Laurentian Hills’ fire hall is unstaffed most of the time, but Laurentian Hills residents aren’t being devoured by the flames shown in the union’s ad. They have confidence in their large, well-trained volunteer force that’s always on-call.
Its too bad we can’t even say that our firefighters are well-trained and always on call. They prefer to be called “professional firefighters,” and yet the Fire Chief’s report last week revealed that they are too concerned about the terms of their collective agreement to get the training they need or respond to their pagers.
That they expect the Ontario Fire College to bow to their shift schedule is silly. That less than half of the off-shift fire fighters respond to emergencies is unconscionable.
What do they think their sunshine-list compensation packages are for?
I’d much rather be protected by people who willingly take training and are willingly on call, because their heart is in the right place.
Last year, Deep River residents voted 89 percent in favor of seeking a composite fire fighting force of 2 full time and 24 volunteers, and if the union or an arbitrator refuses to allow it, to consider only providing fire education and prevention.
Let’s show our support for the Council as they consider the tough decisions that need to be made in the near future.
Daniel Banks
Former Deputy Mayor of Deep River (2011-2014)