Volunteer firefighter shortage putting communities at risk, chiefs say
CBC
At the Petitcodiac fire station, Chief Craig Ramsey worries he might be short of firefighters for the next emergency call. Most daytime hours, only three-to-five volunteers are typically available.
"It's extremely concerning," he said. "From time-to-time we have excellent coverage and there's times we have very poor coverage."
Petitcodiac is one of a growing number of communities in New Brunswick and across Canada struggling to find enough volunteers to keep residents safe.
While cities employ career firefighters, small towns and villages rely on volunteers.
Out of the more than 5,000 firefighters in the province, about 95 per cent are volunteers, according to the New Brunswick Association of Fire Chiefs.
Petitcodiac's station currently has 23 volunteers, but Ramsey said the department needs at least five more.
In the small community around 42 kilometres southwest of Moncton, many residents once worked at a large sawmill. But after the operation closed, most now drive to work in the city. At times, that leaves as few as two volunteers to respond to an emergency, forcing a reliance on mutual aid from surrounding communities.
Peter Saunders is mayor of the newly amalgamated village of Three Rivers, which includes Petitcodiac. He's been a volunteer firefighter for more than 30 years and previously served as chief.
Saunders, 61, works at a building supplies store in the village of 1,400 people, where he keeps his radio on to monitor for calls. Being a volunteer firefighter is a 24-7 role and is disruptive to family, home and work life.
"One minute you're washing dishes, the next minute you're at the end of a hose line or you're driving a truck," Saunders said.
Despite working dangerous situations, most volunteers only receive a few hundred dollars a year to cover their mileage. If they reach enough hours, they are also eligible to claim a $3,000 federal tax credit.
It's also a big time commitment just to get started. It takes 100 hours to do the basic course to become a volunteer firefighter in New Brunswick. Most members also have to commit to regular training one-to-two-nights a week, in addition to responding to calls.
Saunders's father was a volunteer first responder with St. John Ambulance, which encouraged his involvement. But he's seen interest decline over his time with the fire department.
"I believe that we do make a difference, even though there are bad situations. It's the helping people and to have them comfortable in the toughest situations," he said.