Could full-time firefighters be joining part-time firefighters in Grimsby and Lincoln?
It’s an option under review, and the two towns are seeking public input on the issue.
“We have a consultant (Emergency Management Group Inc.) doing a very comprehensive look at the current state of the fire department in both communities,” said Niagara West Fire and Emergency Services (NWFES) Chief Greg Hudson.
“We’re looking at what’s coming in the near future with all our development, with all our growth and what does that mean in terms of new demands for service on the fire department and try to determine what both communities need in terms of fire protection services as we move forward through all this growth.”
Grimsby and Lincoln embarked on a pilot project in 2021 that resulted in the creation of NWFES and the sharing of resources between the two towns, including a single fire chief.
The combined service has 175 volunteer firefighters and 14 full-time staff.
“The firefighters going to calls are for the most part separate, although we do assist each other at bigger calls and on the highway,” Hudson said.
He said the review will consider a variety of options, including amalgamating the two services and adding a full-time component.
“At the end of the day, status quo is not an option,” said Hudson.
He said the full-time option could include staffing for a single fire truck that would be available 24 hours a day.
He said some other volunteer fire departments have a similar system.
“That relieves a lot of pressure on the volunteer department, too, because all those medical calls and carbon monoxide alarms, things that can be handled buy one truck, especially during the day,” said Hudson, adding the full-time truck would be supported by volunteer firefighters as needed.
“Full-time is quite expensive,” said Hudson.
He said a single fully-staffed truck will require about 22 firefighters and cost nearly $3 million annually.
The yearly budget for NWFES is about $6 million.
Volunteer firefighters make on average $35 an hour when called out or for training, and they get more than 1,600 calls for service each year, said Hudson.
“I don’t see Grimsby or Lincoln ever going to a full-time department with no volunteers,” he said.
Grimsby and Lincoln residents can provide input to the fire services review via surveymonkey.com/r/78XH7CS.
The survey closes June 1.
“We really do want to hear from the community,” Hudson said.