The Saskatoon Fire Department faced increased pressure last year due to a rise in homelessness and addiction issues, leading to a surge in calls related to overdoses and encampments. A report from city hall highlighted the significant strain on frontline services, exacerbated by events such as evacuations from northern communities due to wildfires.
Jayden Poirier, a member of the firefighters’ union, noted that the additional workload is reshaping the nature of their job. The department saw a 13.2% increase in overall calls, totaling 28,717 calls, with a notable spike in overdose-related calls, nearly doubling to 2,512. In March last year, the department responded to 509 overdoses, a number surpassed in a single month when they attended 680 overdoses.
Encampment-related fires more than doubled to 116 incidents, while general encampment responses increased to 1,859. Poirier acknowledged the challenges faced by the department and emphasized the growing demand for services, not just for fire incidents but also for complex social issues and medical emergencies. Fire inspections decreased as a result of the increased encampment response.
In addition to these challenges, the fire department collaborated with the police to address potential incidents during large public gatherings for events like the World Series and Halloween. Meanwhile, the Paramedic Services Chiefs of Saskatchewan discussed similar challenges, highlighting a doubling in paramedic calls over the past decade and a shortage of 200 paramedic positions in the province.
Steve Skoworodko, a paramedic and past president of the organization, raised concerns about the sustained pressure on paramedics due to overdoses, leading to burnout and staff turnover. Mental health issues among paramedics were also highlighted as contributing to the strain on emergency services.