Meaford Fire Dept Logo from meaford.ca
Meaford is restructuring its fire department to meet growing and changing needs.
Council approved the municipality enact a by-law to regulate the Meaford Fire Department during a meeting on Nov. 27.
The by-law changes the role of the existing Fire Prevention and Education Officer to a Deputy Fire Chief role, renaming the existing part-time Station Commander to Platoon Chief and removing confined space rescue services.
A report from Interim CAO Matt Smith says the proposed changes are to streamline emergency response procedures and improve operational efficiency while maintaining a strong commitment to public safety.
Fire Chief Courtney Allen says, “we are up almost 56 calls this year, about 30 per cent, and I don’t see that slowing down. The type of calls that we are getting are becoming more complex and more difficult and we need to have the ability to be able to respond to that and have somebody else at my side that’s able to help manage 40 individuals.”
The report says the by-law plays a crucial role in ensuring public safety and the protection of property by setting up a framework for effective fire prevention, protection, and emergency response.
A review was held and after consulting with stakeholders, staff are proposing the removal of confined space services.
“It would be the removal for us to train to a level to be able to do confined space. For example, tight spaces like manhole covers, areas where there is low oxygen. There is not a lot of those type of areas within Meaford and I have already talked to the Owen Sound Fire Department who does confined space. In a situation where we did require that service for some bizarre reason, we would actually call in Owen Sound to take care of that,” says Allen.
The changes to the fire department would cost $15,000 in the proposed 2024 budget.
