Saint John Firefighters Association alleges truck breakdowns are impacting service

Saint John firefighters union says aging trucks are affecting they ability to do their job.

The Saint John Firefighters Association is calling out the city for what it says is a deteriorating fleet of fire engines.

In a social media post Wednesday the association, which represents unionized firefighters in Saint John, claimed two city fire crews were “out of service” over the past weekends due to them not having access to a working fire truck.

The union says it has made it known internally for years the city’s fleet is in need of an upgrade.

“It can take many many months to get new trucks and we hoped that the City’s leadership would begin the process of sourcing new equipment,” reads the post, in part.

“They chose not to, and this has resulted in ongoing and costly repairs on the existing fleet; sometimes fire trucks are being pushed back into service without the capabilities to perform all of their functions. Further, the costs of fire trucks pre covid vs post are striking and the City’s delays will ultimately cost taxpayers more.”

The union credited the work of city mechanics for keeping their aging trucks on the road.

The City of Saint John and Saint John Firefighters Association Local 771 have been without a contract since Dec. 31, 2023. The two sides are currently negotiating a new deal.

The Local 771 Union President, Tyler Embree, said the situation is concerning.

“My concern is the public safety and the safety of our firefighters. Right now, we’re not operating at a level that we have operated for many years, and the city is putting the safety of both the public and the firefighters at risk,” Embree said.

He said the circumstances like over the weekend have led to low morale amongst the city’s firefighters.

“Our firefighters, the morale is down terribly because we just aren’t getting the tools that we need to mitigate the emergencies in this city appropriately,” the union president said.

Fire chief responds

Later in the evening, Saint John Fire Chief Rob Nichol put out a statement assuring the public their safety was never at risk and that the department has maintained full response efforts while dealing with truck challenges.

“While it is accurate that we did not have enough heavy apparatus to staff all stations recently, all stations remained staffed, and our overall response capacity was equivalent to a normal operating day,” said the chief in his statement. “When mechanical issues occurred, our Fire Management team redeployed apparatus and personnel to ensure uninterrupted coverage and reliable emergency response for the people of Saint John.

“Fire crews were not out of service; the same staffing was available for response but deployed differently to maintain full citywide capability.”

Nichol notes that three frontline units were involved in accidents during last week’s storms. One remains out of commission until a replacement windshield arrives.

The chief also acknowledges there are significant delays when it comes to receiving specialized parts, which can extend repair times.

The mechanics who work on the city’s fire fleet are also responsible for the city’s snow-removal vehicles.

“Some online claims have suggested that a truck was returned to service without the ability to perform all of its functions,” said Nichol. “It is true that, in one instance, a ladder truck was temporarily used as a pumper while its aerial components were undergoing repair. The truck was not returned to service in a way that compromised safety.”

Nichol notes, when an aerial component of a truck is out of commission, trucks can still operate as a successful pumper. No piece of equipment is used unless deemed safe.

The city is expected to learn more about a request for proposal (RFP) on a new ladder truck by the end of the year. There are also discussions surrounding a new tanker truck that was approved as part of the 2026 capital budget.

According to the chief, a total of $5 million has been committed in capital funds for fire apparatus upgrades.

“We recognize that residents expect transparency and accountability from their fire service leadership, and we agree,” he said. “These challenges are ours to manage, and we are managing them responsibly. We will continue providing clear, factual information to the community as our fleet renewal strategy progresses.”

CTV News Atlantic reached out to Saint John Mayor Donna Reardon for comment on the situation. She said it would be inappropriate for her to comment on the matter while the city and union are in negotiations.

The city also declined to make the fire chief available for an interview.

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