‘Seconds count’: Firefighters sound alarm over potential budget cut

CALGARY (660 NEWS) — As the City of Calgary continues to search for budget savings as part of its SAVE program, people are being asked to fill out a survey to discuss some possible cuts.

But one potential funding reduction is causing alarm bells to ring, as it could end up lengthening response times for the Calgary Fire Department.

The city is exploring cutting $5.8 million from the fire budget, which could result in response times being extended by 30 seconds.

When broken down to the average tax bill, this translates to an annual saving of $6.90 on a property tax bill.

For the Calgary Firefighters Association, the risk is far greater than the reward.

“At the end of the day, this is going to put the lives of Calgarians at risk,” said spokesperson Matt Osborne.

Every 30 secs a fire doubles in size. #YYC is asking Calgarians if they want to save $6.90 annually on their tax bill for a 30 sec longer response time from Firefighters. Seconds count when it comes to saving lives and fighting fires. Let the City know that response times matter. https://t.co/3KlssfOZUK

— Calgary Firefighters Association (@CGYFireFighters) September 3, 2020

Thirty seconds may not sound like a lot of time to the average person, but for a seasoned firefighter like Osborne, he knows that this time is precious.

“Thirty seconds longer response times, that can be the difference between your house completely burning down or a fire staying in a kitchen.”

Fires can double in size in only 30 seconds, and the city added in the survey question that the lengthened response time can also lower the rate of survival for someone suffering from a heart attack.

Osborne said the role of firefighters is more than what their name suggests, as in many situations they’re the first responder to thousands of urgent medical calls around the city.

This potential change could exacerbate other issues that have been highlighted recently, including the switch away from local dispatching services in favour of a provincial model for Alberta Health Services.

“Our work, if anything, is getting busier,” said Osborne. “That’s where we need to make sure that we’re responding and being there for Calgarians when they need us. AHS dispatch times, our response times, all these response times matter and seconds count.”

WATCH: Calgary Firefighters Association: ‘say no to cuts’

This also weighs heavily on the minds of firefighters, and they know what is at stake here.

“Whether it’s a decision to lengthen response times when we know that fire doubles every 30 seconds and we’re getting there later and now people’s homes are burning down more,” said Osborne.

“Us knowing that decisions could have been made to not have that happen, that is very difficult. And we do a job that is very difficult already. We want to be able to do the best job we can.”

Osborne encourages concerned Calgarians to also fill out the survey and urge the city against making this adjustment.

“Please let the city know that response times matter. For less than seven dollars a year, they’re looking at lengthening response times 30 seconds. Fire doubles every 30 seconds.”