We caught up on a critical staffing shortfall in our fire department by hiring 27 additional firefighters. This means when you call for help, Langford Fire Rescue has the staff ready to respond quickly.
Langford's fire response is now fast and dependable
In an emergency, every second counts. We used to rely on a mix of career firefighters and volunteers, but an independent review of Langford's fire department confirmed that this old model was critically deficient as volunteer numbers dropped and our city grew denser, with new high-rise buildings in the downtown core. Relying on volunteers meant response times - and our community's safety - weren't guaranteed.
By hiring 27 additional firefighters we've ensured that every neighbourhood receives the same fast, dependable emergency support.
What this means for you
While the requests for more firefighters first starting coming to Council in 2018, by 2022, the City's budget only called for deeper cuts to Langford Fire Rescue.
Instead, in 2023 Council started hiring 27 firefighters, allowing the City to open up have 24/7 staffing at Station 2 in South Langford.
With this term's investment into hiring career firefighters, you receive fast, reliable emergency support the moment you need it, while those who still volunteer are better supported, rather than over burdened. This shift provides the specialized expertise required to protect our city’s growing skyline and high-density neighborhoods, and allows our full-time teams to focus more consistently on proactive fire prevention and safety education, keeping our community safer and more resilient every day.
