Pitt Meadows’ firefighters union warns staffing model ‘failing to keep up’ after weekend blaze
Pitt Meadows’ firefighter union is warning the city’s current staffing model is leaving crews stretched too thin after a residential fire over the weekend injured two firefighters and delayed operations.
In a public statement posted to social media on May 5, the IAFF Local 4810 said a structure fire in the early morning hours of May 3 exposed “the unfortunate state of the current response model” in the rapidly growing community.
“A single crew of four firefighters worked to save three homes, essentially doing the job of 15,” the union said. “The paid-on-call (POC) model is failing to keep up. It can no longer be relied upon.”
Crews responded to a house fire on 117A Avenue with mutual aid assistance from Maple Ridge Fire Department, according to Pitt Meadows Fire & Rescue Service. Firefighters remained on scene for approximately four hours.
The back side of the home sustained significant fire and smoke damage, forcing the residents from the home and requiring support from Emergency Social Services. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The union said the incident highlighted serious operational and safety concerns tied to Pitt Meadows’ reliance on POC firefighters.
Only three paid-on-call firefighters with limited qualifications eventually responded to assist, leaving just seven firefighters battling the blaze until Maple Ridge crews arrived, according to Local 4810.
“Interior operations had to be delayed until Maple Ridge responded to help due to limited resources,” the union said.
It also alleged firefighters worked “without rehabilitation or medical assessment as outlined by NFPA standards” throughout the incident.
Two firefighters suffered injuries during the response, according to the union, though both were described as non-severe injuries expected to result in time off work and recovery periods.
The union stressed they were not blaming individual POC firefighters, but rather raising concerns about the sustainability of the staffing model itself.
“A lack of qualified resources directly affects our ability to keep you safe and keep ourselves safe.”
The union added that while the city has invested in staffing a fully career-staffed first engine, larger incidents still depend heavily on backup response capacity that it says is increasingly difficult to maintain.
The city currently has approximately 20 to 25 POC firefighters, but the union noted many do not hold the same certifications as career firefighters.
“The reality is that it is difficult to train them to and maintain them at the same qualification and training standard as career members of the department.”
It also pointed to retention and availability issues, saying many POC firefighters are unavailable during daytime hours because of work commitments.
“Change is needed,” the union wrote, adding it plans to work with city administration and council on solutions.
In a statement issued May 6, the City of Pitt Meadows acknowledged the challenges associated with the POC model, calling it “a sector-wide issue” affecting municipalities across B.C. and Canada.
The city defended recent investments in fire services, noting council approved 24-hour career firefighter coverage and hired nine firefighters in 2023 and four more in 2025.
According to the city, those additions have more than doubled Pitt Meadows’ firefighting force in less than three years.
The city also pointed to the opening of its new fire hall and Emergency Operations Centre in April 2023, along with an ongoing Fire Protection Master Plan expected to return to council in early 2027 with recommendations on future fire service delivery.
“Public safety remains one of the City and Council’s highest priorities,” the city said. “We remain committed to working collaboratively with firefighters, leadership and Council to ensure our community continues to receive effective and reliable fire protection services.”
