Project Summary N-085: Full-time fire personnel

Project Summary

Priority: Critical

Project Name: Full-time fire personnel

1-2-02110/1-2-02111-201/203/205 CC211-01

Submitted by P. Hurst, Fire Chief

Executive Summary Increase our current full-time firefighter contingent from twelve to twenty over five years. An overall increase of 8 career firefighter positions to the existing 12.

Business problem and opportunity In 2026 Council authorized the addition of 2 FTE and 2 Temporary FT positions bringing the number of full-time career members of the department to 12, plus the Fire Chief and 2 Assistant Chiefs. Recent updates to the legislated training requirements for firefighter qualifications and challenges with paid on call retention due to career hires in neighboring departments are primary drivers to securing a consistent firefighting workforce.

The Westshore, including View Royal, has and is realizing significant growth, and recent certification with the IAFF. To that end, neighboring departments are faced with similar challenges. Relying heavily on our neighboring departments for firefighting support, we must ensure we are delivering as much as we are receiving with respect to mutual and automatic aid. Both Colwood and Langford will also realize significant FTE staffing increases in the next 1 to 5 years. Langford approved the hiring of 27 full time firefighters over 3 years, and I anticipate Colwood will be proposing a hiring scheme of 10-12 full time firefighters as part of their overall staffing plan in the coming year.

Proposed project objectives 2 additional career FTE in 2027-2030 inclusive, bringing the total by 2030 to 20.00. The new FTE positions would be assigned to the Operations Division, as line firefighters. As part of an overall strategy to ensure career members in supervision and apparatus operator roles, these positions are complimented by paid on call firefighters on a 24 hour per day basis.

Business risks Increased use of paid on call members to augment weekend, sick, overtime and vacation vacancies. Currently, career staff are limited and restricted in the time off requests because of a lack of backfill capabilities. Changes to legislation and risks associated with experienced supervision and driving of heavy apparatus are driving the change. Currently View Royal is experiencing significant loss of paid on call firefighters to other career halls. This shift is only expected to increase in the near future. Recently, View Royal lost 3 members to career halls, with an additional 4 members on hiring lists as eligible candidates. The quick turnaround of paid on call members at View Royal has eroded significant experience and exposes potential risks.

Proposed sources of funding Taxation

Costs and benefits

Recommendation THAT the Committee recommends the 2026-2030 Financial Plan include full-time fire personnel starting in 2026 to be funded by taxation.