Fire service warns cost-cutting directive a risk

The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service says the only way to reach a cost-saving directive from the city is by taking certain fire vehicles off the street while staffing is low, creating a safety risk.

A report on the WFPS’s overtime mitigation strategy goes to council’s community services committee next Wednesday.

The report says taking vehicles off the street “creates operational risk” depending on the number and severity of fires.

The report notes this year’s budget includes a $3-million expenditure management target for the department. The savings need to be found within the fire service, reads the report, as emergency medical services are funded by the province through Shared Health.

The only option to save cash would be to reduce the amount spent on overtime, says the report, by temporarily taking out up to five fire apparatuses from service when less than 167 full-time equivalent firefighters are working at a time.