Incident at downtown fire station sparks calls for improved state of fleet

CITYnews halifax / By Rachel Morgan

Halifax Professional Fire Fighters (HPFF) found themselves in a sticky situation Saturday when the sole engine was out of service at the University Avenue station — the oldest and most continually staffed station in Canada.

For several hours, no spare truck was available, while Local 268 mechanics worked tirelessly to keep the fleet operational.

The incident sparked renewed concerns about the current state of the city’s fire fleet, which, Brendan Meagher, president of HPFF, told CityNews, is not keeping pace with increasing demand for fire services.

“Halifax’s fire trucks, particularly our aerial units, are essential for safe and effective responses, especially in high-rise areas like downtown. At present, three of our four 100-foot tower ladders are out of service, leaving only a 75-foot spare ladder truck to cover our downtown core,” Meagher said. “Additionally, two of our stations, where a ladder truck is typically the primary unit, have been temporarily assigned an engine due to the condition of the aerial fleet. This shortfall leaves critical high-rise areas underserved and vulnerable.”

Related:

• Roads closed as emergency crews respond to gas leak in Halifax’s north end
• Residents return to homes after north-end Halifax area evacuated due to gas leak

Currently, fire apparatuses are under the authority of Halifax Regional Municipality’s corporate fleet, but HPFF is lobbying to have them brought under the authority of Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Services to streamline equipment and response.

These concerns are calls for improvement of services, like a larger budget for training and equipment and plans for new stations.

HPFF remains fully committed to advocating for essential fleet improvements to ensure reliable emergency response for all Halifax residents,” Meagher said. “These fleet challenges directly impact our fire fighters’ ability to protect and respond to our community safely and effectively. The safety of both our fire fighters and the community remains our highest priority.”