Rocky View County (RVC) has taken steps to reduce the cost of Fire Services, estimating the changes will save taxpayers approximately $4 million over the next three years.
“We know that there are insufficient funds within the fire budget to accommodate the anticipated and dramatic wage increases that have been awarded through arbitration over the past few years,” said Ted Gard, RVC general manager of community services. “The substantial cost for what is essentially a rural fire service caused us to look at the value that was being added for our residents and our community.”
RVC is currently engaged in arbitration with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) in an effort to iron out a new Fire Services contract.
RVC administration has identified three areas where cuts will be made, the first being to terminate responding with fully equipped fire trucks to emergencies.
Instead, emergency response vehicles (ERV) – four-wheel drive pickup trucks – will be utilized, and will not only cut costs, but will also provide quicker response times.
“The ERV approach puts RVC at the forefront of fire protection for rural communities,” said Gard. “It’s an innovative approach, but based on ideas that have been tested and proven throughout North America.”
ERVs, which the county already owns, will be equipped with a basic fire apparatus, automatic defibrillators and other first-aid gear.
Another step to reduce costs means firefighters will no longer respond to non-emergency medical incidents where paramedics or ambulance personnel are sufficient.
“RVC firefighters are only trained to basic first aid, with added training in CPR and AED (automated external defibrillator),” said Gard. “They have very limited medical knowledge and skills. The medical professionals are with AHS (Alberta Health Services).”
Gard said firefighters would continue to respond to medical calls that pose a threat to life, unlike many other fire departments, which have stopped responding to all medical calls.
The third step toward cutting the cost of fire services will be a reduction in firefighter positions.
At present, a fire captain and four firefighters are present during each shift at county fire stations. The reduction will see one firefighter position eliminated from each shift.
“The improvements in how we respond to calls,” said Gard, “and the elimination of sending full crews to absolutely every minor incident will allow us to staff fire trucks and stations safely and effectively with fewer people.”
Fire Services staff that may be affected by the reductions will have the opportunity to move into the unionized paid-on-call pool, where they can continue to work and receive pay.
Gard said the county faces significant challenges on how to best structure and resource the fire department with the costs for the service on the rise.
“The cost increases are even more concerning when you consider that half our county is served by volunteer firefighters who cost us very little,” said Gard. “What we’ve announced today will not be the end of changes.”
The changes RVC has outlined will take effect this week.
The county indicated that the price tag for its Fire Services has increased by 600 per cent over the past 10 years, and that even with these announced changes, this year’s costs are expected to rise by nearly $1 million, primarily due to union staff costs.
Gard said the county operates on a three-year budget cycle, and that they have allocated a maximum three per cent increase for each of the three years ending in 2013.
“The public loves, and even idolizes firefighters,” said Gard. “There’s always an element of concern in any change to a fire department, but I’m confident that when the public fully understands our plans – and the $4 million price tag associated with doing nothing – they will fully support the actions we’re taking.”
IAFF responds
Rocky View County officials’ decision to reduce fire service staff on each shift and halt firefighter response to non-emergency medical incidents will “result in less than industry standards,” according to Lorne West, International Association of Fire Fighters 6th District vice president.
“This is alarming and concerning and I can assure you, it will not be safe for residents,“ said West.
“Rocky View County residents should know their fire service is badly misguided and mismanaged. It is tragic and sad and frankly it’s pathetic.”
County officials announced June 6 in a press release that fire services will undergo “a number of planned changes to the operations aimed at enhancing response times, adapting to changing needs, and reducing the impact of dramatically rising costs.”
These cuts come after seven full-time firefighters and one chief fire marshal were laid off Feb. 29, 2012, as part of the county’s restructuring process.
Reeve Rolly Ashdown said the county has no intentions of doing something that isn’t safe.
“I can tell you the attitude and idea is not to compromise safety,” he said.
“The idea is to have a fire services that works within budgets and gets the job done.”
West said he is surprised to hear the county blame the increased costs on the union because during negotiations in February, the county did not provide any counter wage offers.
“I have never seen an employer just agree to our first offer in the 40 years I have been doing this,” said West. “It’s somewhat suspicious of them to blame the union for this cut of services. Firefighters are willing to put their lives on the line everyday and the only reason they needed a union in the first place was because they were working in unsafe conditions.”
Gard said the county has been negotiating in good faith with the local fire union since 2010. A part of that negotiation has been numerous discussions and proposals on salaries and benefits, he added.
“For the union to suggest that it was unaware their salary demands would create difficulties for the county is completely disingenuous,” Gard said in an email.
West said the implementation of emergency response vehicles and changes to the response to emergency calls is “smoke and mirrors.”
“If you have a certain number of firefighters on duty anyway, wouldn’t you rather have them attend emergency calls and help out than sit in the firehall?” he asked.
According to Gard, the county’s plans were reviewed for safety by a former independent fire chief and past official with the IAFF.
West said he finds that highly unlikely.
“No experienced official would agree to these staffing levels,” he said.
West added the minimum threshold of staff to fight a fire safely is five: two inside the building, two outside the building and one manning the truck, making the changes proposed by the county below industry standards.
Gard said Rocky View County’s proposals meet or exceed the guidelines set out by the Canadian Fire Protection Association.
In fact, Rocky View County will have a higher level of firefighter staffing per shift than our surrounding communities (Airdrie, Cochrane, etc.), he added in an email.
“The number of firefighters on a truck or in a hall has little bearing on the number of people needed for any particular incident,” Gard said. “Other alarms are sent in if more firefighters are needed, and they respond from neighbouring stations.”
West said he would be looking into “legal remedies” regarding the changes.
