A group representing unionized firefighters in Saint John is sounding the alarm about equipment shortages, saying two crews were unable to adequately respond to calls over the weekend because some equipment and trucks failed.
Resources were so scarce that Saint John Firefighters Association says crews had to use a pickup truck instead of a fire truck to respond to the call.
Association President Tyler Embry says there has been no back-up support, and the fleet of serviceable spare trucks is now mostly used on the front lines.
He adds that at least three more trucks need immediate replacement.
“The ladder truck that is currently in the city center (…) uses a broom with a screw on the end to activate the ladder and ensure it works properly. This is very worrying for firefighters, especially when seconds are counting,” he said.
Embry says it could take up to 52 months for the new truck to be delivered unless the city makes an emergency purchase.
Get the latest national news
To stay on top of news affecting Canada and the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you as they happen.
He adds that the department has seen staff reductions of about 40 percent in recent years while demand continues to grow. In 1993, they had about 230 firefighters who responded to about 2,500 calls, according to the association.
Now there are just over 150 firefighters for about 10 thousand calls.
Embry and the association warn that safety levels are not what residents expect or deserve.
“They threw the can so far down the road that we're now in a place where we can't (get) out of the trucks, at least in a timely manner,” he said.
The City of St. John declined an interview request, but in a statement on its website, Fire Chief Rob Nichol said “public safety was never at risk” in light of recent “issues with the fleet.”
“Recent weeks have brought several unexpected challenges that have temporarily impacted fleet availability. Three frontline units were involved in accidents during last week's storms, one of which is out of service until a new windshield arrives,” he wrote.
“Our fleet mechanics, who service all emergency and winter vehicles including fire engines, plows, sidewalk plows and the wider municipal fleet, prioritize fire equipment while managing significant seasonal demand with a limited number of mechanics available.”
The chief said that despite the limited amount of heavy equipment, all stations remained staffed and overall response times remained the same.
The statement said the purchase of the new ladder truck is nearly complete and the $5 million reserved for next year will likely be used to purchase the tank and engine.
© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
