Yellowknife decides to hire firefighters in 2018 after all

The City of Yellowknife will hire four new firefighters late next year, a reversal of plans contained in the 2018 draft budget to defer that hiring until 2019.

On Wednesday evening councillors unanimously voted to bring that hiring forward to October 2018 instead.

The city already hired four of the eight new firefighters recommended in a 2016 consultant's report to address burnout and understaffing at the Yellowknife Fire Department. The remaining four firefighters were to be brought in late 2018, but the draft budget postponed the hire until 2019.

• Councillor pushing Yellowknife to hire firefighters in 'desperately understaffed' department

Coun. Shauna Morgan saw risk in leaving the fire department at existing staffing levels, saying it could impede the department's ability to respond to more than one emergencyat a time.

"I don't think families in this city would sleep well at night knowing that we're only somewhat understaffed now in terms of our emergency first responders," Morgan said.

"I think we should actually maintain that momentum and get those staff in place as soon as possible so we can move forward and at least have the minimum levels that are required."

More than a dozen firefighters were in council chambers to witness budget deliberations concerning the deferment, just as they did on Monday and Tuesday night.

"We had all been getting ready for the worst, and this is such a pleasant surprise and the best possible outcome for the citizens and us," said Jamie Stringer, vice president of the local firefighters union.

"Everyone's winning today."

The city estimates it will cost $93,000 to fill those four positions for the final three months of 2018.

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