New rules for Fire Depts. cause challenges for municipalities

The North Eastern Fire Education Conference was held in Huntsville

Huntsville Council was warned that legislation for Fire Departments will be challenging for municipalities, in the April 28, 2025, meeting.

Councillor Jason FitzGerald, said that information regarding government legislation requirements and what’s involved with having a Fire Department, including vehicle maintenance and what firefighters can and cannot do “will be more regulated moving forward.”

He indicated that this will present a challenge for municipalities because of the costs associated with increasing maintenance and reporting.

The information came from the annual North Eastern Fire Education Conference (NEFEC) last month attended by fire officers, firefighters, and elected municipal officials.

Fire Chief, Gary Monahan, advised that the conference that has been around for 25 years moved to Huntsville 7 years ago, and had over 225 people in attendance.

He indicated that areas that will have a significant impact on costs include cancer prevention, apparatus, and staffing.

CAOs are also now involved in the conferences, in addition to Council members, for maximum success, which costs more in staff time.

The Town’s CAO, Denise Corry, attended the conference and spoke about an attendee that shared a story called "The day I almost died” that highlighted the stress and challenges firefighters face on a daily basis, which is one reason why the government is expanding on legislation to support the ongoing issues.

She added that many firefighters lose their lives to cancer because of exposure to related elements, such as carcinogens, therefore creating budgets for injury prevention will be a key factor moving forward.

She expressed appreciation about the Huntsville Fire Department partnering with Lake of Bays which helps to cut down on costs while providing services.

Deputy Mayor Dan Armour concurred about the various risks firefighters face and the impacts that result. He said that there are 19 different cancers for firefighters, who are also prone to PTSD, therefore, “it’s important to get the information out.”