(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

paving the way for safer response

Understaffing conundrum with Red Deer fire station #2 possibly solved

May 30, 2025 | 4:57 PM

A solution may have been found for the persistent and risky issue of understaffing at Red Deer’s Fire Station #2.

The very public back and forth between IAFF Local 1190 and the City of Red Deer goes back about a year, and revolves around the repeated situation of Station #2 finding itself with only two staff, as opposed to the NFPA 1710 standard of four.

While 1190 has insisted this puts firefighters working overtime, and the public, as well as structures at greater risk for physical injury, mental illness, and damage — the city not denying that — the municipality has also maintained that their goal at all times is to meet the standard, and that they do the vast majority of the time.

Chief of Red Deer Emergency Services, Ken McMullen, told rdnewsNOW on May 30 the understaffing primarily occurs when there are last minute bookings for time off. He also insists Engine 2’s geographic area is well covered by adjacent divisions, which is why it’s the one that gets understaffed.

What’s more key, however, which McMullen revealed to rdnewsNOW, is that the City and 1190, just a week ago, struck a new agreement, or Letter of Understanding, which will grant the ability to hire 12 temporary full-time EMS-only workers to fill in when understaffing would otherwise occur.

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“This is historic and a monumental benefit to all, and it will allow us to fill positions for staff who are on long-term or protected leave, and not have to request any additional full-time equivalent (FTE) positions [from the city],” McMullen explained.

“We all know this is a job that is hard on our minds and bodies, so when a person is injured, they’re typically out four months or longer, and there’s been no ability to backfill.”

The new agreement allows the FTE to be paid to the temporary worker while the regular worker is paid by benefits.

Further, the temporary workers being medics, those hires will work on the medic units, giving capacity for the full-time medics to work on the fire truck given they are dually-trained. They will be hired on 12-month terms, the city added.

This news comes two days after a joint statement from the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), and Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association (MFCA).

Chief McMullen is the Canadian division director on the board of the IAFC, among other roles.

The statement, which was shared with rdnewsNOW by Local 1190, reads:

“NFPA 1710 sets minimum requirements for staffing and deployment in career fire departments, ensuring that adequate personnel and equipment arrive quickly on scene to extinguish fires, save lives, and maintain fire fighter safety. CENTRAL TO THIS STANDARD IS THE REQUIREMENT THAT ALL ENGINE AND LADDER/TRUCK COMPANIES BE STAFFED WITH AT LEAST FOUR FIRE FIGHTERS. This level of staffing is essential for safe, coordinated operations and for providing the protection that our communities expect and deserve.”

Last July, McMullen told rdnewsNOW it’s unacceptable to him anytime a station has less than five staff, which is why he’s adamant the current situation is not what the city has wanted.

“It’s not our desire to run less than four people, however at times, circumstances have put us in that position.”

But he does firmly believe the new agreement will help avoid repeated issues.

According to the Local 1190 Facebook page, there has been a staffing shortage for Engine 2 on at least nine days this May, including once for nearly 40 hours straight.

Local President Stephen Belich is optimistic about the agreement.

“This is about public safety and firefighter safety, and this solves the problem of overtime, and some mental health situations in our people,” said Belich. “My question is if we’ve come to this conclusion, then why do we still have the dynamic staffing policy? That’ll be a conversation we continue to have with them now that we’ve agreed to this.”

The dynamic staffing policy was approved by city council in January this year.

In Red Deer, the total number of RDES staff working at one time is 31.

“In an attempt to cut down on overtime, if there was one overtime shift needed, they would call a person in to cover that shift and bring us back to 31. But if there were two needed, they would drop down Engine 2 to two people and not call in overtime,” explained Belich. “Essentially, as numbers go down, it triggers or doesn’t trigger calling in people to cover.”

On whether the city will look at rescinding that policy once the 12 temporary workers are in place, McMullen says it’s a council decision, but it would be a good idea to keep it in place just in case they run into a rash of injuries or illnesses among temporary staff.

A year ago, McMullen told rdnewsNOW he was not aware of any complaints to the city from the public about the understaffing situation; the city confirmed today there have been some, including emails, letters and phone calls. But they couldn’t yet pinpoint an exact amount.

A petition on change.org launched April 18 has just shy of 2,000 signatures; the petition asks the city to restore safe staffing for RDES and respect a previous vote of non-confidence in Chief McMullen, by union members.

That vote was non-binding.

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READ MORE

• July 20, 2024: Red Deer emergency services chief & association address Station #2 staffing challenges
• Feb. 7, 2025: Red Deer firefighters share growing concern around staffing requirements
• Mar. 11, 2025: Red Deer standing by emergency services leadership despite discontent within union
• April 25, 2025: Petition calling on City of Red Deer to address alleged understaffing within RDES, catches fire