One less siren may soon be responding to certain emergency calls in Fredericton as senior staff consider keeping fire trucks at the station when non-life-threatening calls come in.
Paul Fleming, acting chief of the Fredericton Fire Department, says trucks shouldn’t have to leave the station to respond to less serious 911 calls, such as a sprained ankle or flu-like symptoms.
“We really shouldn’t because every time we go out, we’re going out of our area and of course, we’re a fire department, and at any time we can have an emergency,” says Fleming.
Alan Stephen, the president of Ambulance New Brunswick, recently made a presentation to city councillors in Fredericton, suggesting they consider sending firefighters to certain calls, and not provide blanket coverage.
“A consideration we’re asking them is to look at the evidence presented,” says Stephen. “Look at the stats we have and let them make a decision based on those findings.”
Some Maritime communities, including Halifax and Moncton, already have such protocols in place. Moncton introduced its new rules in 2011, and has since recorded a 30 per cent drop in the number of calls to which the fire department responds.
“I think we can at least do that here and I think that’s good for the community,” says Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside.
He says senior staff will look at numbers to see which calls firefighters are responding to and how often.
“Ambulatory at one time wasn’t what it is today, so I think it’s time to reflect and have a look for the sake and safety of firefighters, the safety of the public,” says Woodside.
“What we’re trying to get is that balance, to serve the residents of the city to give them a good service, and a fast response to medical emergencies,” says Fleming.
Fredericton City Council will have the ultimate say on what happens.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Nick Moore
