The City of Prince George needs 32 more firefighters over the next five years.
That’s according to a report that was presented before Prince George City Council at a special Committee of the Whole meeting this afternoon. (Wednesday)
“The effort of today was really to focus on the needs that have been identified for many years, that we are understaffed to appropriately respond to a residential structure fire,” said Fire Chief Cliff Warner.
“If that residential structure fire happens, if we are appropriately staffed to meet those needs, it’s our expectation that we arrive on scene with the right number of firefighters that can provide the effort to protect the people that are maybe in that building, get them out so they’re alive, and bring the emergency support services in to provide support, if it’s required while they’re displaced from their home.”
The staffing plan 2024-2028 staffing plan for Prince George Fire Rescue was detailed as the following:
- 2024: Hire one Fire Admin Clerk and seven Firefighters
- 2025: Hire ten Firefighters
- 2026: Hire ten Firefighters
- 2027/28 Hire five Firefighters
Councillor Ron Polillo inquired about the cost of the 32 new Firefighters.
Warner did not have a dollar figure, but said they would be working to prepare one when it’s time to come back to council.
It was noted there are approximately 100 Firefighters on staff right now.
The report also calls for a new medic unit estimated at $100,000 next year, and an additional Pumper/Tender/Rural Apparatus estimated at $1 million in 2025.
Councillor Kyle Sampson said he was glad to see the new medic unit.
“The struggle I’m having is the City of Prince George and our tax-payers are supplementing a provincial resource, medical, because they are understaffed, under-resourced, and so we are often having our resources tied up in medical calls supplementing,” Sampson said.
“This is not a knock on the people who provide on the frontlines of BC Ambulance Service, that’s not a criticism, it’s the realities of the funding they have.”
Warner added the City’s Firefighters are trained to respond to medical emergencies, and they are strategically located in the city to respond.
“We have for decades been a partner with BC Ambulance in protecting, and as you can see in the report, the call volume has increased significantly,” Warner said.
“If the call comes in we will respond and we will provide protection to our community.”
The report (page 13) noted there were 9,208 responses in 2022, up from 5,481 in 2014.
Sampson moved “That a motion be considered by council to convene direct advocacy efforts with the appropriate ministries and officials from BCHS that appropriate funding or reimbursement be provided to the City of Prince George for our supplemental service that Prince George Fire Rescue Service is providing to the Provincial Emergency Health/BC Ambulance Service response, which is under the provincial jurisdiction, not municipal.”
That motion will be brought back before council during a regular meeting at a later date.
City Manager Walter Babicz added supplemental to that would be advancing a Union of BC Municipalities resolution.
Sampson made a separate motion to have that considered by the Standing Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs.
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