WELLINGTON NORTH – Wellington North Fire Services has responded to 33 more calls this year, as of Sept. 19, than it did by the same time last year.
The calls represent a 14 per cent increase year-over-year to 263 incidents from the 230 seen in 2021, according to a report summarizing fire service activity.
A significant jump in incidents was observed this past summer.
A graph provided in the Wellington North Fire Service Q2/3 report illustrates call volume between fire stations in Mount Forest and Arthur from April to August.
Notably, of 179 total incidents between April and August, the vast majority—93 per cent, or 166 incidents—were unrelated to fires.
There were 13 total fire calls in the four-month period, four of which were outdoor and without losses.
Fire Chief Chris Harrow attributes the summertime increase to “numerous medical calls, alarm activation and other unrelated incidents” in the report.
Responses to medical calls “are starting to increase due to the shortage of ambulances in the area,” he wrote, adding “it has increased the workload of the team significantly, especially during daytime work hours.”
