In an emergency, we know that every second counts, yet thousands of Edmontonians are
experiencing longer wait times for fire rescue services. Supporting new fire halls and fleet
equipment will be critical in this next budget cycle, because we cannot accept unnecessary risk
and inequitable services for Edmontonians.
Currently, most of Edmonton’s fire stations are located within Anthony Henday Drive, while
homes extend beyond it. Despite their best efforts, Edmonton Fire Rescue Services (EFRS) has
noted that these areas are seeing response times three minutes longer than the targeted
response time, and those three minutes can make all the difference.
This is why capital funding in the upcoming budget should be focused on essential investments in safety, like fire halls.
Last year, EFRS received more than 91,000 calls for service, making 2025 one of the most
demanding years ever. Fleet vehicles, including pumper trucks, ladder trucks and rescue units,
were dispatched 166,009 times, which amounts to more than 450 times per day! These
numbers tell us clearly about the demands on this service.
In addition to this, we have seen the devastating impact of wildfires across our province. Just
two years ago, Albertans watched as our beloved Jasper lost upwards of 30% of its structures in
a tragic wildfire, leaving many residents with nothing. Right in Edmonton, we’ve had our own
scares. In 2023, Ward Anirniq was impacted by a grass fire in Albany. As the fire neared homes,
residents were evacuated, and it was only due to the good work of EFRS that the blaze was
contained. Our city’s beautiful river valley and other green spaces pose a significant risk when
conditions are hot and dry, and we need to be prepared for the reality of these scenarios we’ve
already seen across the province.
More fire stations needed
We’re playing catch-up, because our growth has outpaced our investment in fire services. Over
the past five years, we’ve seen an 18% population increase. As our population continues to
grow, our fire rescue services must keep pace. As is, our fire stations are serving increasingly
larger areas and populations, and it’s not sustainable. We know that six new fire halls (Big Lake,
Wedgewood, Chappelle, Riverview, Cumberland and Horse Hills) are imminently needed in the
next 4 years, and I will be pushing for their funding in the next budget. These projects still take
time, but the critical decision to focus on safety growth for this budget will improve fire services
for years to come.
Right now, we need to be extremely practical on the design and costs of these new halls. We
need fire stations fast, and at a reasonable cost. I know we can build these next fire halls for
less, to make sure they meet the needs and functions of the EFRS without overly costly
enhancements that add costs without proportionate benefits.
Funding for these stations is critical, or Edmontonians will pay the price. We cannot cut corners
on this issue or defer it any longer.
Protecting what matters to us
In addition, EFRS has had to deploy fleet units that are past their lifecycle. At a minimum, EFRS
needs three new pumper trucks (fire engines) and two new rescue units to meet daily service
demand.
These numbers don’t account for times when units are out of service for regular maintenance,
repairs, future growth of stations, or replacement of life cycled units. The need is far greater
than just one factor.
Replacing these units makes economic sense and benefits the operating budget. Aging units
require more costly repairs and are at greater risk of failure. Ultimately, the cost of maintaining
aging units outweighs that of replacing them on schedule. Additionally, procurement timelines
for new units have doubled or even tripled over the past six years, from 300 days to 700–900
days, so we need to plan for the future now.
Edmonton's firefighters do so much for us. They are on the frontline during some of our worst
crises, and we cannot continue to put additional pressure on them. They keep us safe, and they
deserve the resources to do their jobs safely and effectively.
By investing in fire services, we’re investing in what matters most to us: the well-being of our
families, friends, and community members. There is nothing more important, and that’s why
funding for fire services is essential right now.
Erin.
