HALIFAX — Firefighters say they are facing rising levels of violence while on duty and are asking the federal government to tighten legislation.
According to a survey of more than 117 Canadian fire departments, 40 percent of firefighters have been assaulted in the past five years, says Edward Kelly, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters. Kelly also said he believes violence is underreported.
“We had a Toronto firefighter who was bitten by a patient,” Kelly said in an interview last month. “In Winnipeg, we're seeing some serious growth; “There have been 58 incidents reported in Winnipeg this year alone.”
The Canadian Press reached out to several fire unions across the country, as well as municipalities, to see if they kept their own statistics on reported violence.
Some refused to answer, while others said they did not have such statistics.
Kelly says violent incidents can range from verbal abuse to physical attacks, and the consequences can be deadly.
“In Idaho, a person started a fire, attracted firefighters, and then shot at the firefighters, killing two of them and seriously injuring another. In Kansas City, we had a paramedic who was stabbed in the back of an ambulance and died,” Kelly said.
The IAFF says the frequency of these types of violent incidents is increasing, and Jeremy Quillian, president of the Moncton Fire Fighters Association, agrees.
Quillian says the homeless population in Moncton has increased in recent years, with several people finding shelter in the wooded areas around the city.
“Sometimes we go into the woods to complain about a fire or see smoke, and we scare them. They may become verbally aggressive towards us. And when we go out to those calls, we notice that they have weapons to protect themselves,” Quillian says.
Quillian says violent incidents are also common during doctor visits, especially in overdose situations. “When we wake up, patients may be verbally or physically aggressive towards us.”
While the Moncton Firefighters Association does not keep specific statistics on reports from its members, Quillian said in an email that there has been an increase in violent incidents during calls or even at fire stations. “Our members have reported vandalism of their vehicles while working, verbal altercations during calls, and physical assaults during calls.”
Having been a firefighter for more than 16 years, Quillian says he introduces recruits and squad members to let them know the job has changed over the years. He says he tells new firefighters that they may have questions about certain calls and that there are colleagues willing to discuss anything they encounter on the job.
The first step toward making the environment safer comes from the federal government, Kelly said. In November, Kelly traveled from IAFF headquarters in Washington, D.C., to Ottawa to speak with officials about strengthening laws regarding assaults on first responders.
Kelly championed the changes, which were included in two pieces of legislation: the Liberal government's Sentencing and Bail Reform Act and the Senate Opposition bill. Both are proposing amendments to the Criminal Code to give firefighters the same protections as police officers and transit workers.
The Senate bill was introduced in September but has not yet been debated in the House of Commons.
The Government's bail reform bill, introduced by Justice Minister Sean Fraser in October, has passed its second reading and is now being examined by a House committee.
In an email, a Department of Justice spokesperson says: “The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of protecting emergency services personnel from acts of violence; everyone deserves to work in an environment free from abuse.”
Kelly says the IAFF would like to see both bills passed.
“First of all, we want to draw a line in the sand,” Kelly said. “If you attack firefighters and paramedics in Canada, you will face severe penalties.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 21, 2025.
