By Isabel Teotonio
Toronto Star
TORONTO — Every day, about one-third of Mississauga’s fire trucks are understaffed, preventing firefighters from running into a burning building and placing the lives of residents at risk — a disaster waiting to happen, say some.
“I wouldn’t want to be that person waiting for them to come in (and rescue me) and then they can’t because they’re one person short,” said city Councillor Sue McFadden yesterday.
“I feel for our citizens and their false sense of security.”
The city’s 30 first-response vehicles are routinely staffed by three firefighters, even though regulations stipulate four are needed before entering a burning building.
There is a “desperate need” for more firefighters, said the Ward 10 councillor, adding she would support a tax increase to pay for new hires.
Her comments came on the heels of an appearance Wednesday by Mississauga fire Chief John McDougall at a general committee meeting, where the issue of staffing surfaced. The Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services have not had a staffing increase since 2006, despite a population growth of about 30,000.
There are currently 24 vacancies, with 16 people in training. But McFadden says at least 40 additional firefighters are needed to cover vacancies of staff away on holiday or off sick. Only then could one feel confident that a full complement of four firefighters would always respond to calls.
McDougall did not respond to an interview request yesterday. According to reports, he told the committee it was through “luck or good management” that nothing serious had occurred because of understaffing.
Responding to calls without a full complement is like “playing Russian roulette,” says Greg Laing, president of the Mississauga Fire Fighters Association, who represents about 700 members.
At the very least, Laing would like to see each truck staffed by four firefighters, as was recommended in two separate inquests: one into the 1980 fire at a senior citizens home that claimed 25 residents and another into the 1995 blaze at Meadowcroft Place retirement home, where eight people perished.
Mayor Hazel McCallion has requested a report detailing how often vehicles are staffed with firefighters.
Copyright 2009 Toronto Star Newspapers, Ltd.