Latest news with #emergencymanagement
CBC
9 hours ago
- Business
- CBC
Dozens more firefighters, new stations needed says review of Moncton Fire Department
A review of Moncton's fire department calls for hiring dozens more firefighters, opening a sixth fire station and relocating three stations. The Emergency Management Group's review, commissioned by the city and presented to council Monday, has 64 recommendations. City staff estimate implementing them could cost $200 million over 15 years. The report comes after years of the union representing the city's firefighters raising the alarm about staffing levels barely increasing since the 1970s as the city's population and skyline have grown. Jeremy Quillian, president of Moncton Firefighters Association IAFF Local 999, said the recommendations could address the stress and workload firefighters face. "We'll take any staff that we can get right now because at the end of the day, it will mean better services for the citizens of Moncton," Quillian told reporters Monday evening. There are 22 firefighters on duty per shift, below the 38 a National Fire Protection Association standard says should be part of an initial response to a highrise fire. The report would increase the city's staffing to 37 per shift. Including administrative and other roles, the recommendations would increase the department to 200 positions from 124. Fire Chief Conrad Landry said the department will spend the coming months examining the recommendations. "What we've been looking for is what's the road map of the fire department for the next 10 years, and we now have it," Landry said. One major recommendation is to add a sixth fire station within three to six years. That would mean adding 40 firefighters along with additional fire trucks and equipment. Another recommendation calls for relocating the St. George Boulevard, Brandon Street and Botsford Street fire stations within 10 years. St. George, with the fire training tower, and Brandon are described as insufficient. The report says Botsford, the newest station built in 2008, can't be expanded and has safety issues. The report says a new station can range in cost from $5 million to $20 million. The report, which spans more than 300 pages, paints a picture of a department that's struggled to keep up with the city's population and issues like drugs and homelessness. It says the number of calls for service "have grown exponentially," reaching 9,135 last year. That's up by 1,300 from 2023. Medical calls accounted for almost 60 per cent of calls between 2021 and 2023. The report says "medical and social-service type calls are on the rise." One recommendation is for the department to use smaller medical response trucks to reduce wear and tear on larger vehicles during medical responses, an idea several councillors Monday suggested could be an immediate priority. The city's social issues are reflected in other ways in the report. A description of the Brandon Street station notes it is beside a shelter and says the station's landscaped areas were "littered with drug paraphernalia and needles." The report says the city installed fencing at the station due to vandalism and thefts. Elsewhere the report says security concerns have led to some staff being unwilling to transfer to certain stations. "The impact of social issues on the folks here is massive," Coun. Shawn Crossman said Monday. The review also describes the department as behind on building fire safety inspections compared to requirements set by the province's fire marshal. Despite increasing inspections, the report says the department's workload and structure make it more reactive. "The importance of a proactive fire inspection program cannot be overstated, particularly in light of the ongoing challenges posed by workload constraints and staffing shortages within the [Moncton fire department]," the report states. "A well organized, adequately resourced fire prevention program ensures compliance with safety regulations and plays a critical role in reducing fire-related injuries, deaths, and property damage." Several councillors who spoke Monday welcomed the report's recommendations and thanked firefighters watching in council chambers. Coun. Charles Leger said he wished council had the report before a recent presentation by city staff that suggested Moncton may need to raise its tax rate in 2026 for the first time in years. At the time, city staff alluded to significant costs looming, including the fire review and downtown infrastructure. "This is really daunting," Leger said of the fire report, suggesting it may mean the city can't hold its tax rate steady. He called for staff to return to council in September with more details about what could be prioritized in next year's budget. Coun. Daniel Bourgeois made a motion, which passed unanimously, calling for staff to present priority items in September and an implementation plan by the end of the year with costs, timelines and pros and cons of the recommendations.
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Climate
- RNZ News
Nelson-Tasman region to get its own rain radar by 2027
Aerial images showing the extent of flooding in Tasman. Photo: Tim Cuff / POOL The government says the flood-hit Nelson-Tasman region should have its own weather radar by the start of 2027. The region, which has endured repeated floods caused by heavy rain in recent weeks, as well as five states of emergency in the past 14 years, does not have its own rain radar . Associate Transport Minister James Meager said the existing contract with MetService was being amended to immediately begin the procurement of a new radar for the region. MetService was aiming to purchase it by next Autumn and get it operational that summer, in late 2026 or early 2027. A new radar will cost up to $5 million, with operating costs of around $800,000 a year. Immediate work will begin using existing MetService funding. The radar would help better prepare the community for future disasters, Meager said. "This is something the community has asked for, and it's my hope the investment will give locals peace of mind over their individual and property safety in future events. "Weather radars play an incredibly important role in emergency management once an event starts. They allow forecasters to monitor the progression of a storm, refine short-term forecasts and warnings, and provide specific guidance to emergency managers about the distribution and intensity of rainfall." Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell said Nelson-Tasman had experienced several high-impact flooding events in recent years. "Since 2011, there have been five states of emergency declared in the region. Providing Nelson-Tasman with a new weather radar will give emergency managers greater ability to monitor rainfall and flooding risk during a severe weather event, reducing the risk of loss of life and property. "In addition to the new weather radar, the government has committed to strengthening the emergency management system to ensure it is fit for purpose to manage significant, widespread emergencies. "Investments in modern technology and trained personnel, along with clear governance structures and assurance, will ensure faster, more effective emergency management." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Why Alaska's recent 7.3 earthquake has caught the attention of scientists
A powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck off Alaska's Aleutian Islands on Wednesday, prompting a tsunami warning and calls for coastal residents to seek higher ground, though officials later confirmed no significant damage or injuries. The tremor, which hit a seismically active region that has seen several strong quakes in the past five years, including a similar event almost exactly two years ago, initially triggered fears of a large wave. However, the tsunami warning was downgraded after about an hour. Communities spanning a 700-mile (1,127-km) stretch of Alaska 's southern coast had advised residents to evacuate. The National Tsunami Warning Center reported the maximum wave height at Sand Point, 55 miles (88 kilometres) north of the epicentre, was a mere 3.9 inches (10 centimetres), occurring at low tide. Despite the initial alarm, authorities confirmed on Thursday that there had been no reports of injuries or major damage from the event. Earthquake sparked tsunami warning The earthquake struck at 12:37 p.m. local time, prompting the center's tsunami warning. There are a number of ways people in warning areas can receive notifications, including the sounding of sirens in communities that have them, listening to weather radio or public radio broadcasts, following official accounts on social media, or via push alerts on cellphones. In some places, local officials have relayed warnings door to door, said Jeremy Zidek, a spokesperson with the state's emergency management division. Public safety departments in King Cove and Unalaska sent alerts urging those in coastal areas or those that could see inundation to seek higher ground. The warning issued by the center was downgraded to an advisory before being canceled around 2:45 p.m. Alaska is one of world's most seismically active regions Alaska is the most earthquake -prone state in the U.S. and one of the most seismically active regions in the world, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The state experiences a magnitude 7 earthquake almost annually, and the second-largest earthquake ever recorded was centered about 75 miles (120 kilometers) east of Anchorage, the agency said. That 1964 magnitude 9.2 earthquake — and the tsunami it triggered — killed about 130 people. The Aleutian arc is no stranger to earthquakes, but the activity in the region where Wednesday's earthquake struck has gotten scientists' attention. The area, within a few hundred miles of the earthquake, has 'lit up' since 2020, with Wednesday's earthquake marking the fifth exceeding magnitude 7.0 since 2020, said state seismologist Michael West. 'I would not call this an isolated earthquake. It appears to be part of a larger sequence spanning the last several years," he said. But West added: 'There's no reason to be alarmist about this.' People should continue to heed warnings, officials say Some communities have buildings designated on higher ground as meet-up points during tsunami warnings, such as a school, while others might simply urge residents to retreat up a hillside, Zidek said. 'That area of Alaska, most areas of Alaska, it gets steep real quick,' he said. Sometimes, the only warning one might have is the shaking ground, Zidek said. 'If it shakes violently for 20 seconds or more, that is your warning sign, and you should head to higher ground if you're in a coastal area,' he said. Zidek and West said people should continue to heed warnings. West said he worries about a 'burnout effect' among residents in the region, some of whom have evacuated numerous times since 2018 in response to larger earthquakes that have not caused significant damage. West said he is reminded of a magnitude 8.6 earthquake in 1946 — west of the location of Wednesday's quake — that generated a deadly tsunami and led to the creation of a U.S. tsunami warning system. The death toll included more than 150 people in Hawaii, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 'This area is capable of trans-Pacific tsunamis, and I feel like maybe the best way to stay vigilant ... is maybe to look into our deeper history beyond just the last five years,' he said
CTV News
7 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Fire risk remains in Manitoba; fire sizes unchanged
VP of Emergency Management for the Red Cross Melanie Solar on what efforts the organization is making to help those impacted by the wildfires in Manitoba.
CTV News
15-07-2025
- General
- CTV News
How the Red Cross is assisting Manitobans affected by wildfires
Watch VP of Emergency Management for the Red Cross Melanie Solar on what efforts the organization is making to help those impacted by the wildfires in Manitoba.
