The City of Campbell River's fire department has run a deficit for the last decade, with overtime hours being a major contributing factor over the past three years. This year, the fire department exceeded its 2024 operating budget by roughly $375,000.
That's according to a presentation to city council by Campbell River's fire chief Dan Verdun and deputy chief Kelly Bellefleur on Dec. 3.
The main factor leading to overtime is the contractual obligation under its firefighters union, Verdun told council. The contract requires that a four-person crew must be on duty 24/7 at one hall, while two personnel are required at the second hall.
"Having this minimum staffing requirement means that when somebody calls in sick the shift is covered to maintain that minimum staffing level," said Verdun.
The report on the fire department's financial pressures outlines that since 2022, most overtime hours have been due to shift coverage to maintain the minimum staffing levels. Shift coverage can occur for many reasons but most of the time it involves covering sick leave, banked or family leave, or a workplace injury.
Adding a new firefighter position in 2024 led to about 1,800 hours of coverage that reduced overtime costs, alleviating the burden on existing staff, he said.
But other pressures – increased costs for sick leave, training, emergency call-outs for major incidents, and increases in compensation – have resulted in the amount spent on overtime increasing again this year.
Verdun said the fire department used "term firefighters" to cover 2,000 overtime hours in 2024, leaving roughly 4,000 hours of short-term unscheduled absences that existing staff need to cover. This is also contributing to firefighter burnout, he said.
The 2024 fire operating budget is $6.9 million with $5.9 million or 85 per cent allocated to wages, states the report. Of this total, about $4.9 million is allocated for wages related to suppression, prevention, and mechanical services, which includes overtime.
Coun. Ben Lanyon said the fire department's biggest weakness is the efficient use of labour and he is concerned about the costs being passed on to the city each year. Over the next year, he said he wants to look at reviewing the department's level of service.
"We have to really watch that," Lanyon said. "We are being asked to increase the base budget, which becomes somewhat of a permanent change. I don't think I want to send that signal."
Coun. Susan Sinnott asked whether the city could conduct a review process of the fire department's service levels.
"Do we have to send firefighters in to do inspections on businesses to make sure they're compliant for their exit signs and their various safety equipment or is that something a third-party qualified professional could do?" she said.
To address the budget overage, council allocated extra funding to cover the 2024 deficit as a one-time solution on Nov. 21.
According to the fire department report, there are potential cost savings, but budget constraints mean significant cuts could impact overall service delivery. If no changes are made to operations or services in 2025, the fire department will likely face a budget shortfall of $325,000 to $375,000 again next year, the report says.
