The City of Pitt Meadows has been making leaps and bounds in its fire department recently, with the latest development being that for the first time in its history, the local firehall is now staffed 24/7.
READ MORE: New firehall on display
On June 5, the official transition was made, marking the departure from the long-standing model that relied on paid-on-call volunteer firefighters.
Instead, the city now utilizes the eight new firefighters hired back in May to keep the firehall staffed at all times, which Mayor Nicole MacDonald explained was something that had been at the top of the city’s to-do list for quite some time.
READ MORE: Pitt Meadows approves plans to add nine full-time career firefighters
“The decision to transition Pitt Meadows Fire and Rescue Service to a 24/7 model was necessary to ensure the safety of our residents and our firefighters, as well as to ensure the service level is the same regardless of the time our assistance is requested,” said MacDonald.
“Our council was proud to support this needed change and to know our community is better protected.”
Brent Hannah, president of the IAFF Local 4810 Pitt Meadows firefighters union, agreed that this change was a massive win for the community.
“The department has always had a dedicated group of volunteers, however, with the continued growth of the city, a volunteer service model was no longer sustainable,” said Hannah.
“Calls for service are increasing yearly, and new development brings new types of hazards to this community. Having a full-time career-based fire department ensures around-the-clock availability to respond to emergencies promptly.”
Hannah also explained that by having a full-time career-based service model for the firehall, many Pitt Meadows homeowners and business owners will likely be able to get more favourable insurance ratings and lower premiums.
“The residents of Pitt Meadows and the Katzie First Nation deserve the same level of emergency service that is provided in neighbouring and similar communities,” he said. “This is a great and large step towards achieving that goal.”
Have a story tip? Email: brandon.tucker@mapleridgenews.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.