Cumberland, N.S., de-registers volunteer fire department over alleged leadership issues

The Municipality of Cumberland has de-registered the Joggins Fire Department. (Source: Facebook/Joggins Volunteer Fire Department)

The Municipality of Cumberland has de-registered the Joggins Volunteer Fire Department over perceived leadership and safety issues.

The municipality said it is no longer satisfied the Joggins department, which is located near the Bay of Fundy, is capable of providing the necessary services for its area. The nearby River Hebert Fire Department will take over the area for the shuttered Joggins department.

“An engineering assessment has deemed the fire hall in Joggins an unsafe and inappropriate building from which to provide fire services,” a written statement from the municipality reads. “The leadership of the Joggins Fire Department has been determined to be incapable of managing the department in an appropriate manner due to training and technical competency deficiencies and numerous examples of misconduct and poor judgement.”

The municipality now has 17 active fire departments that serve residents.

“The Municipality wishes to acknowledge the long and rich history of fire and emergency services in the Joggins community and thank all of the selfless volunteer firefighters and others who have for decades given of their time and resources in service of their community,” the municipality said.

Later this month, Cumberland Council will consider a staff recommendation to facilitate tenders for the construction of a new fire hall in River Hebert that is estimated to cost $3.5 million.

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