Fact Check: Langford Fire Department

There have been comments made at a North Saanich Council meeting and on social media about the Langford Fire Department that are not accurate. The City would like to provide the facts.

The claim that Langford residents were at risk of losing their home insurance unless firefighter staffing was increased is false. At no time was residents' home insurance at risk due to fire department staffing levels.

Starting in 2017, the Langford Fire Department began to expand to ultimately provide 24/7 staffing at Station 2 to improve response times. This increase in capacity was intended to manage multiple incidents, respond to larger and more complex buildings, and provide safer staffing for firefighters.

The City approved a Fire Master Plan in 2023 to ensure the department would continue to meet the needs of a growing community. As part of this approval, 27 fire fighters were added over three years. Looking forward to the next five-years, the Fire Department will continue to assess and advocate for the needs of a rapidly growing community.

Reports also incorrectly suggested that firefighter hiring was responsible for three years of 15% tax increases. The tax impact was 1.16% in 2023, 2.31% in 2024, 1.85% in 2025, and 1.88% in 2026, for a total of 7.2% over four years. Other protective services costs such as RCMP, Bylaw, and E-comm 911 also significantly impacted taxes within these years.

The City remains committed to implementing all Fire Master Plan recommendations and supporting a Fire Department that is well trained, well equipped, and ready to keep our community safe.