WINDSOR, N.S. — It’s been five years since Windsor firefighters were the primary responders for Falmouth, but should disaster strike, they’ll now be paged out first.
It’s a change that was lobbied for by citizens, recommended in the 2019 regional fire services review by Goudreault Associates, and since embraced by area chiefs.
The change came into effect July 28.
“We have a communications package now that will be going out to inform the residents but the message quite simply is you will have the same dependable fire service as you did before,” said Mark Phillips, the municipality’s chief administrative officer, of the boundary changes.
“In some minor cases, you may see one department versus the other and those changes really are to improve the fire service and for no other reason than that.”
In 2010, the Windsor Fire Department (WFD), which was founded in 1881, started developing a falling out with West Hants council over contracted services to the county.
By 2015, the relationship between the WFD and West Hants municipality deteriorated, resulting in West Hants creating its own fire service and Windsor focusing its attention on town limits. As such, fire districts changed. A group of concerned citizens formed the Avon Region Citizens Coalition to lobby for amalgamation, stating it would resolve such things as fire service issues and what they felt was out-of-control municipal spending.
In 2016, the majority of West Hants councillors were ousted during the municipal election. In 2018, Bill 55 was introduced in the provincial legislature, paving the way for Windsor and West Hants to amalgamate. That consolidation became official in April 2020.
Since January, area chiefs have been meeting to discuss various fire services recommendations.
“The consultants made the recommendation of the shifting of boundaries to make response times more in line with logic and common sense. You want the closest fire hall to go to the call,” said Jamie Juteau, the chief for the Windsor Fire Department.
“It’s just a better set up for customer service.”
After a thorough review, it was decided Windsor will resume primary coverage of both Falmouth and Upper Falmouth — areas they had previously covered for decades. For the past few years, Hantsport Fire has been the primary responder and Windsor was providing mutual aid, then auto-aid once the regional fire service was set up.
“A lot of things went on in 2015 and we have to move beyond that,” said Juteau, a longtime firefighter who has been the fire chief since December 2018.
“I have a lot of members who live in Falmouth, personally, who are very happy to respond with their home fire hall. But at the end of the day, we’re happy to serve where we can and wherever we are needed.”
WIN-WIN FOR EVERYBODY
Paul Maynard, a Hantsport deputy fire chief, said while the realignment of fire districts is good, the change won’t necessarily be noticeable to residents.
“I think it makes sense. It’s taking the areas and realigning them so that they’re getting the closest, most appropriate fire response to their residents in the event of an emergency. That’s what it boils down to,” said Maynard.
“With auto-aid, they’re not going to see a huge difference but it just ensures that the primary agency for their residence is the closest agency that’s responding to their emergency,” he added.
Juteau agreed.
“At any kind of major incident, they’re going to see Windsor, Hantsport and Brooklyn at that call. That’s just the way we run — we run together,” said Juteau.
“By having the auto-aid system that we do, it pretty well guarantees a proper response with the proper equipment in the proper time frame for all the residents in our catchment area. It’s basically a win-win for everybody,” Juteau added.
But it’s not only Windsor’s fire boundary that’s changing.
The commissioned report recommended revising several of the fire districts to ensure the quickest response times.
“The determination of fire districts should be based on a seemingly simple principle. For any incident, the closest appropriate resources should be sent first,” the report states.
“Appropriate means a resource (fire apparatus, manpower, equipment, knowledge, etc.) that can and will be used to mitigate the situation.”
Aside from Falmouth, Hantsport’s fire districts won’t be changing much. They will continue to also serve Mount Denson, Hants Border, Bishopville, and portions of Kings County. Hantsport will also maintain the substation in Vaughan.
Maynard said Hantsport firefighters are agreeable and supportive of the changes.
“We’ve said all along that we’d be supportive of the study and this is just another recommendation from the fire services study that our members fully back and fully support,” said Maynard.
“From a fire service perspective, it’s a good thing and it’s progress.”
Brooklyn’s main areas haven’t changed much due to the review, however, Brooklyn’s substation in Three Mile Plains, which was formed during the height of the WFD-municipality disagreement, will cover a little more ground now that Windsor is responding to Falmouth.
“Basically, where we used to go to town limits, just before Tonge Hill, now what happens is Three Mile Plains will respond first for everything from basically the old town limits to turning down Chester Road,” said Juteau.
“Realistically, with traffic flows and with their position, all things being equal, if we left the stations at the same time, they can be there quicker and it’s really all about who can get there first.”
Aside from some slight changes, Summerville and Walton firefighters will respond to the same general areas.
Maynard said they have received questions from the public about why more than one fire department is called to a scene. He said the benefit of auto-aid ensures the best outcome.
“We’re all volunteers. At any given time, a lot of our firefighters work out of town or are unable to leave work,” said Maynard.
“Having a two-station response from basically two different directions ensures that we will have the necessary resources to handle the emergency, even if sometimes it seems like a bit of overkill.”
With the amount of roadwork and construction taking place this summer, Maynard said auto-aid allows for more timely responses.
STILL UP IN THE AIR
The report, which made about 150 recommendations, suggested the amalgamated county cease its relationship with the Mount Uniacke Volunteer Fire Department for coverage east of Ardoise as it would take Brooklyn the same amount of time to arrive. That change has yet to be made, the CAO said.
“There is no change to the Uniacke Fire Department continuing to provide services to our residents in that area. But as we move along here, we anticipate that we will enact that change,” said Phillips, noting the municipality must provide the fire service with the proper notice.
Responding to the Duck Pond Road, Black River Lake area was also highlighted in the report and the CAO said it’s currently under review. The report recommended the Southwest Hants substation be the primary responder.
“We have yet to negotiate with the County of Kings the overall agreement with the Hantsport service,” said Phillips, noting they plan to look at the greater agreement between the counties for fire protection.
“When we do that, we will look at the Duck Pond area and they can decide if they want us to service their residents or not,” he said.
Maynard said they will continue to respond to the Duck Pond Road area while West Hants and Kings counties review which fire department should be responsible for coverage. The easiest way to access the site is currently via one of West Hants’ country roads.
Juteau, Maynard, and Phillips all noted that the fire departments are committed to providing the most efficient, cost-effective service for the region.
“If you think about where we are at right now, we have all the chiefs at the table and the study and everybody are in alignment, that’s a pretty good spot,” said Phillips, noting it’s been a collaborative effort between the fire service and municipality.
“We work together. Our fire department relationships are better than they’ve been for a long, long time. It’s a good thing for the citizens,” said Juteau.
Tom Calkin, a Falmouth resident and member of the Avon Region Citizens Coalition, said it was difficult watching the 2015 break-up of the fire service. He was pleased to learn about the recent boundary changes.
“I think it’s great that they’re doing it. Thank gosh,” said Calkin.
“The fact that they have made Windsor responsible for the Falmouth area makes absolute good sense,” he added.
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