He’s been very busy being a firefighter in Calgary.
“We have seen a 14 percent annual increase in call volume. It is the busiest year in the history of the Calgary Fire Department, ”CFD Chief Steve Dongworth said in an end-of-the-year interview with Global News.
According to data from the City of Calgary, CFD responses to overdose and poisoning calls increased 58 percent as of 2020, opioid and fentanyl calls increased 39 percent, and use of the naloxone kit in calls increased by 49 percent, or about 10 percent. day, said the CFD chief.
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Mental health and wellness calls increased 57 percent to 911 incidents in 2021 from 579 in 2020.
And calls related to pandemics or outbreaks rose 13 percent to 2,662 this year.
“The hustle and bustle itself just means it’s exhausting, especially with some of the types of calls we make,” Dongworth said. “But then there is the psychological stress.”
The fire chief said that of the 146 CFD members who contracted the coronavirus, he feels lucky that none have died from COVID-19, unlike fire departments in other cities.
“Our people live in the community. They live in a community where, during COVID, you have not been able to go to do the things that you normally would, so you go home to an environment that is also affected.
“This is not exclusive to firefighters. As with all of us, our life has totally changed. “
To keep firefighters safe, restrictions have been placed on fire stations for things like capacity, shifts, gym facilities, on-the-job training, and added personal protective equipment for each call to avoid contracting COVID-19 from someone in need. help. of the fire department.
Changes to the 911 dispatch system have been something CFD members have grown accustomed to, as well as the increase in code red incidents, where there is no AHS ambulance available in the immediate area.
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The Calgary Fire Department got a little respite this year in the form of a $ 10 million funding increase for more firefighters, as part of this year’s budget deliberations by the city.
Dongworth said it is a relief for a department that has received new fire trucks as new communities have been added to the city’s footprint, but assets such as ladder trucks and rescue trucks have been left behind.
“We executed a very light and slim model. It has worked over the years thanks to the commitment of our people, but it is certainly something that we must (address) looking to the future, “he said.
“There is research as recent as something I saw the other day that suggests that having the right personnel in your fire department has a huge impact on the safety of firefighters, as well as the safety of the community.”
Dongworth said the fire department has stepped up its training on how to interact with the homeless.
“And we are actually releasing more awareness information right now, specifically about how people are dealt with in the camps. Dongworth said. “What kinds of resources are there that you can direct these people to?
“So instead of just dealing with the problem that presents itself, maybe dedicating more time to finding solutions for some of these people.”
The fire marshal said he was “extremely proud” of the work the men and women of the Calgary Fire Department did last year, and said he remains concerned for their safety.
A recent episode of “mayday” – in which a firefighter asks colleagues for help because they are injured, unknown for what or lost in a fire – in the southwest of the city is highlighted by the fire marshal.
“The focus is on getting that person out – going and looking for them, getting them off the property,” Dongworth said. “Even that is something that only the hair on the back of his neck stands on end.
“If there’s one thing that keeps me awake at night it’s concern for the members, the front-line women and men who are out there day and night… often putting themselves in harm’s way, taking care of clients (Calgarians). “
– with files from Adam MacVicar, Global News
© 2021 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Reference-globalnews.ca