The Saint Andrews Fire Department is seeking new volunteer members.
Fire Chief Kevin Theriault said the first year of service can be very demanding on a volunteer firefighter, but finding and keeping new members is a widespread issue for different fire departments.
“We do have five or six open slots on the station, said Theriault . “So, we’re just trying to bring our numbers back up to where we’re full, and hopefully we get enough people to do that.”
A volunteer service typically has members who have full-time jobs outside the fire service, meaning day-time calls can be difficult for them to respond to. (Nathalie Sturgeon/CHCO-TV)
The first year of being a volunteer firefighter carries the heaviest commitment.
“There’s about 200 hours in training, the first year with firefighter level one, first aid, WHIMS, things like that,” he said. “After that, it’s a few courses here and there or responding to calls. The first year is a big year.”
He said the other component is most volunteer firefighters have full-time jobs, which Theriault said creates slower response times during the day.
“There’s a lot of commitments. They just can’t take off,” he said during an interview. “Our response is the worst right now. You’re seeing that clear across the fire service and volunteer fire service. Recruitment and retention is one of the biggest issues facing fire fighting right now.”
Many rural communities and municipalities rely on the volunteer fire service – with mutual aid agreements between different departments to bolster resources when needed.
A recent information session resulted in two applications, Theriault said.
The council in Saint Andrews also reached consensus about the increasing the stipend for firefighters this year. (Nathalie Sturgeon/CHCO-TV)
“Hopefully this week we’ll be able to interview those two and move on to the next steps with bringing them on,” he said.
Theriault is hopeful a recent agreement to increase the stipend for the firefighter service will help bring more people onto the team.
The municipal council agreed at a recent budget meeting to increase the stipend from $13,000 a year to $20,000. Theriault explained that money is provided to firefighters for every hour they are on the call, and they receive a bit of compensation.
Any increase to that stipend will require final approval through the budget process, which has not happened yet.
“It helps cover the cost of their gas to respond or clothes that get ruined throughout the year,” he said, adding he hopes that crosses the finish line on the final budget. “It’s a big step in helping retain firefighters. The more we can get back to the volunteer firefighters, the better it is. That’s a huge commitment.”
The department is also preparing for the arrival of its new ladder truck, although the council said last night it has been delayed by six to eight weeks — but the new truck will provide the department with a significant advantage in many types of fires.
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