HALIFAX – Three fire stations in the Halifax area are closed Christmas Eve due to low staffing levels.
The King Street station and Lady Hammond Road station are closed until 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve while the Metropolitan Boulevard station in Sackville is being manned by volunteer firefighters from 8 a.m. on Wednesday until 8 a.m. on Christmas Day, according to Phil McNulty, the fire information officer with Halifax Regional Fire and Rescue.
The King Street station and Lady Hammond Road station will re-open at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve with career firefighters while the station in Sackville will re-open at 8 a.m. on Christmas Day with career firefighters.
McNulty said he expects all stations will be at full staffing levels Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
“This happens on occasion during periods of high vacation usage when people want to be off,” he said about the staffing shortage.
“We’re very comfortable with the fire protection we’re offering residents in those areas of adjacent stations.”
McNulty said the next closest fire stations will be called if there is a fire call in the area of the three stations on Christmas Eve.
The stations on Highfield Park Drive, Walker Street and Pleasant Street will take on calls for the King Street fire station. The stations on West Street, Bayers Road and University Avenue will respond to calls for the Lady Hammond Road station.
McNulty said all the stations providing back-up services are at full staffing levels Christmas Eve.
“It’s not our intent to close fire stations on an ad hoc basis. These are just things that happen due to circumstances that currently beyond our control.”
All three stations are slated for closure in an attempt by the fire department to reduce inefficiencies. Fire Chief Doug Trussler has said analysis shows the changes won’t affect response times.
However, the union representing the firefighters is not happy with the proposed changes, saying they could endanger the safety of residents.
The matter has been referred to Committee of the Whole in the New Year, when all councillors will be able to discuss the issue.
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