TORONTO – Some fire stations across Toronto could be closed as the city tries to cut millions of dollars from its budget.
Toronto Fire Services has been asked to cut approximately $12.7 million.
“Ultimately to meet the target we’ve had to look at five stations to be impacted,” Fire Chief Jim Sales said.
The Runnymede Fire Station 424 is at risk of closing its doors and some nearby residents voiced their concerns at a town hall meeting Sunday.
“This fire hall in question is in my neighbourhood. It’s a local service for fire protection in my neighbourhood and if it’s going to be closed I want to know why,” Paul Mclecheran said.
The stations at 1549 Albion Road, 5318 Lawrence Avenue East, 840 Gerrard Street East and 7 Lapsley Road could also be reduced to one truck.
Chief Sales promised response times will not be significantly affected.
President of the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters Association Ed Kennedy warned that the cuts would push Toronto’s fire services farther away from the accepted standard.
“The city claims there will only be a marginal impact resulting from the cuts, but the reality is that it will take longer for enough fire fighters to arrive on scene to perform critical tasks such as aggressive attack and interior search and rescue in targeted areas,” Kennedy said in a press release.
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According to the fire fighters’ association, Toronto Fire Services already fail to meet the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1710 standard which states four fire fighters should be able to respond to a scene in four minutes and 15 to 17 others in approximately eight minutes.
Councillor Sarah Doucette suggested the reduction in fire stations constitutes a service cut – something Mayor Rob Ford promised against during his 2010 campaign.
“This is life and death. It will affect our residents, it will affect our properties,” Doucette said. “I thought this mayor came into office saying he’s not cutting service. This is a service cut!”
Failure to meet NFPA standards could lead to a rise in home insurance costs, according to the fire fighters’ association.
“The city should be finding ways to improve public safety, not target it. Toronto citizens and taxpayers expect and deserve adequate fire protection, not decreased public safety and potentially higher insurance premiums,” Kennedy said in a press release.
The city budget committee is holding public consultations beginning Monday on the proposed 2013 budget.
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