Cambridge Fire Department reports 22% increase in emergency calls in 2023
The Cambridge Fire Department saw a 22 per cent increase in emergency calls for service in 2023 compared to 2022.
At a city council meeting Tuesday, Fire Chief Rob Martin shared the update with councillors.
His report showed there were 9,667 incidents in 2023 – that’s an average of more than 26 calls per day.
There were 98 structure fires reported, which is a five per cent reduction from 2022.
“We also have outdoor fires – about five per cent of the 22 per cent increase came from outdoor fires,” Martin said. “The other percentages would come from rescue calls. We had more river rescue, water rescue type calls, as well as [vehicle collisions] and medicals.”
Martin came on as the city’s fire chief in November 2023. In an interview with CTV News Thursday, he said the team did “phenomenal” last year.
“I would say that they knew that they were a busy department,” he said. “I don’t know that you necessarily realize the increase… until you see it in the numbers.”
The report says total fire loss equalled more than $9.2 million, which represents a very slight increase from the year prior.
Medical calls were up to 5,790, while the number of false alarms rose from 964 to 1,111 – a number that’s concerning for councillor Helen Shewry, who sees a lot of these as possibly preventable calls.
“If we could reduce those, I think it will be less strain on the fire department,” Shewry said.
Martin says the increased number of total calls meant they had less time for staff to participate in training exercises, and noted some proactive programs also suffered as a result.
There were 98 structure fires in 2023, which was down from the previous year.
Martin credits the work of the fire prevention team for that number decreasing.
But the overall number of other fires – like outdoor and property – rose last year.
Shewry wanted to know how many of those calls were for encampment fires.
She said Martin told her it was about 91 calls.
“So when you take your budget and divide it amongst the calls, per call – it would work out to almost $3,000 a call.”
Martin said the department is the process of developing new analytic tools.
“That will allow us to dig a little bit deeper – look for themes, look for trends,” he continued. “And then we’ll be able to apply some better solutions.”
In 2023, the fire department had 157 fulltime equivalent positions and gross operating expenditures of $29,637,000.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
2 charged after police find 'concerning and diverse' explosives at Manitoba home
Winnipeg police say they have arrested two people in their 20s after a large amount of explosives were found in a home outside of Winnipeg, Man.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Spain abolishes national bullfighting award in cultural shift
Spain scrapped an annual bullfighting award on Friday, prompting a rebuke from conservatives over a backlash against a centuries-old tradition they see as an art form but which has run into growing concern for animal welfare.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.