Rising Fuel Costs Squeeze Nova Scotia Volunteer Fire Departments
Volunteer fire departments across Nova Scotia are facing mounting financial pressure as diesel prices reach approximately $2.60 per litre and furnace oil costs rise by 40 per cent, forcing chiefs to consider cutting training runs and delaying equipment purchases.
Rising diesel prices have become a growing concern for volunteer fire departments across Nova Scotia, placing significant financial pressure on organizations that already operate with stretched budgets. With diesel reaching approximately $2.60 per litre, departments are being forced to make difficult spending decisions.
Rod Nielsen, chief of the Brookfield Volunteer Fire Department in southern Colchester County and president of the Fire Service Association of Nova Scotia, noted that all larger vehicles at his department are diesel operated. To manage the rising costs, budget cuts may involve reducing mutual aid training runs outside districts or delaying purchases of smaller equipment like flashlights.
The federal government removed the excise tax on diesel, a measure that provided some relief but did not offset the price increase over the last year. Richard Heighton, chief of the Caribou Volunteer Fire Department in Pictou County, stated that diesel is twice as expensive as it was last year, effectively doubling their fuel budget. The Caribou department relies on fundraising drives like lobster suppers and yard sales to help manage its expenses.
Beyond vehicle fuel, heating costs are also climbing. Costs for furnace oil used to heat fire hall garages have increased by approximately 40 per cent. This rise hits particularly hard because many fire service buildings are not very energy efficient.
For department leaders, the immediate cost increases are compounded by uncertainty regarding how long high prices will last, which remains a significant challenge for planning and operations.