Eight full-time and two part-time firefighters are joining the Miramichi Fire Department, according to a news release from the city on Tuesday. The city calls it a significant investment in public safety and emergency response capacity. The closure of the Centennial Bridge and other infrastructure challenges have added urgency and additional demands on municipal services. “The safety of our residents is always our top priority. These additional firefighters will enhance our ability to respond quickly and effectively across the city,” mayor of Miramichi Adam Lordon writes in the release. The 1.1 kilometre bridge closed in April. It’s set to reopen in December as part of a project to replace the bridge deck. The Province of New Brunswick has provided funding to the City of Miramichi to help mitigate the service impacts from the bridge closure. The city says it views this as a “foundational step in strengthening both service delivery and its working relationship with the Miramichi Fire Department, with a shared commitment to continuous improvement and community safety.” For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.