Task force aims to hire new volunteer firefighters in rural Sudbury

Plans are underwayto set upa new task force in Greater Sudbury, Ont.,that woulddevelop a plan to attract more volunteer firefighters.

• Equalizing fire services across Greater Sudbury could be costly: report

"I think we have to do something to train everybody who wants to apply, who's qualified and make sure that we use them," councillor Robert Kirwan said during Monday's emergency services committee meeting.

"We'd rather have too many people show up than not enough to a fire."

Volunteers are needed in Beaver Lake, Dowling, Levack, Falconbridge, Skead and Wahnapitae, according to fire chief Trevor Bain.

"It's some of the more rural areas that we suffer the challenges of trying to maintain ... volunteers both from a training and an attendance perspective," Bain said.

The city recently received 110 applications from interested people.At least 60 made it to the interview and fitness testing stage, and 40candidates passed.

But, only 25 were selected because that'show many could fit in the city's training session, according to assistant deputy fire chief Jesse Oshell.

Bain alsonoted that those potential candidates come from areas where there arealready enough volunteers.

'Maybe its the recruiting process that has issues'

Some citycouncillors feelthose numbers aretoo low.

"We have a population of over 160,000 in the Greater City of Sudbury, and for us to only be able to come up with 110 applicants, I believe that maybe it's the recruiting process that has the issues," saidcouncillor Michael Vagnini.

Vagnini passeda motion during Monday's meeting to train the remaining 15 qualified recruits by the end of the year.

"I don't believe there's anything wrong with the recruiting process," Bain said.

"I believe we've actually went beyond what we have in the past in terms of communicating the opportunity to be a volunteer firefighter both using various media, social media and mainstream media."

Still, Bain said he's committed to increasing recruitment numbers.

Once established, the new task force is expected tomeet beforethe end of November.

It will then present a report to councillorswith a plan forhow to attract and retain more volunteer firefighters early next year.