Owen Sound council is proceeding with a cost review of the city’s fire department.
At its meeting Monday night, council approved a motion to hire a consultant to review and update the city’s master fire plan with options for future fire protection. The recommendation came from Owen Sound Fire Chief Doug Barfoot, who delivered a report to council comparing the cost of the Scenic City’s fire department to similar-sized municipalities.
Barfoot told council he believes the time has come to take a look at the fire department and see if there is an option to provide services in a more cost effective manner for residents and businesses while maintaining an adequate level of safety.
Fire departments in Collingwood, Brockville, Orangeville and Wasaga Beach were used as comparable’s in the report.
Barfoot says as of 2016, Ontario has 449 fire departments. Just 32 of those are full-time Owen Sound being one of them. Nearly half of the province’s fire departments are volunteer (part-time), while 191 are composite departments, which utilize a combination of full-time and part-time firefighters.
“Composite fire departments provide a level of service with a mix of career and volunteer firefighters,” Barfoot told councillors. “When additional resources are required, volunteer firefighters are called in to assist the career staff.”
“Across the country, this is seen to be the most cost effective service for smaller municipalities.”
Collingwood, Orangeville and Wasaga Beach all utilize composite fire departments, while Brockville has a full-time department.
According to data provided by Barfoot, Owen Sound’s cost per capita to fund its fire department is $217, Brockville taxpayers pay $268, Collingwood is $202, while Orangeville and Wasaga Beach are both $159.
Owen Sound Fire currently employs 31 full-time staff, 26 of those in fire suppression. Staffing levels were lower in all comparable municipalities except for Brockville, which has 39 full-time staff and two part-time, with 28 firefighters in suppression. Barfoot says it should be noted Brockville also supplies dispatch services through its fire department.
Barfoot adds Owen Sound is unique with the geographical layout its department and the Inter Township Fire Department. He says Owen Sound is the only municipality to have the neighbouring department within city boundaries, allowing them to work closely to aid one another when assistance is necessary.
In 2016, there were 26 fire calls in Owen Sound and 21 in the Inter-Township response area.
Looking forward at the review process, Barfoot says if council does decide on any changes to the fire service adjustments would have to be negotiated with International Association of Firefighters Local 531. Failing that, arbitration would be necessary.
Council directed city staff, the Fire Chief and Deputy Chief to provide a cost comparison report at a meeting in October 2017 when Owen Sound and District Chamber of Commerce executive director Peter Reesor raised the question of looking at the city’s cost of providing firefighting compared to similar municipalities.
The fire department budget for 2018 is $4.98-million.
According to Barfoot, 92% of all fire department operating costs go towards wages and benefits.
