More support and better communications equipment coming for N.S. volunteer first responders

WEDGEPORT, YARMOUTH COUNTY, NS – Although a few days away, it felt like Christmas inside the Wedgeport fire hall on Dec. 19 when it was announced that almost 2,000 additional new trunked mobile radios will be provided to volunteer emergency responders by the fall of 2024, on top of what has already been allocated.

These will be the gift that keeps on giving when it comes to improving communication for volunteer firefighters, ground search and rescue volunteers, and others who do vital work for Nova Scotians in their times of need.

The new equipment will go to more than 300 volunteer fire departments, ground search and rescue teams, and other organizations.

The province’s investment in the new radios is about $7.5 million.

The new radios come in addition to the current allotment of 2,700. Therefore by next fall, the province will be distributing close to 4,700 new radios to the volunteer organizations.

Volunteer first responders critical to province

The value of the work of volunteer first responders during emergencies cannot be overstated, said Service Nova Scotia Minister Colton LeBlanc.

“They need a robust and reliable two-way radio system to do their job,” he said. “I’m pleased we can help support the invaluable work they’re doing to protect our friends, neighbours, and loved ones.”

As a former paramedic and volunteer firefighter, LeBlanc knows the importance of communication during emergencies.

“This has been especially true during the recent historic wildfires and tragic flooding events across Nova Scotia. But we all know that every day … volunteers are doing extraordinary work to keep us all safe.”

But to do this job, volunteer first responders need equipment they can rely on. LeBlanc said volunteer first responders need mobile radios that are reliable, robust and meet industry standards.

Encrypted to protect privacy

The radios will also be encrypted, which addresses a recommendation from the Mass Casualty Commission Final Report that all emergency response agencies should have access to encrypted radios.

“There’s personal details that are shared over the radio at times,” LeBlanc said. “We want to respect individuals’ privacy and their personal information.”

Many volunteer fire departments in southwestern Nova Scotia, along with ground search and rescue, were represented at the announcement.

“This will be a significant improvement in our ability to communicate by radio during emergencies. We’re grateful for the province’s support in helping us keep Nova Scotians safe,” said Wedgeport & District Fire Department Chief Steven Jacquard. “These radios will go a long way.”

Paul Gould, deputy chief of the Quinan and District Fire Department, and the Yarmouth County representative of the Fire Service Association of Nova Scotia (FSANS), delivered a message from Greg Jones, president of the FSANS, noting that every day first responders make a difference in their communities.

“The value of having effective radio communications on the emergency ground is extremely important,” Jones wanted people to know.

Sherry Veinot, president of the Nova Scotia Ground Search and Rescue Association, echoed that sentiment, saying, “Having the right equipment is essential for our ground search and rescue teams to be able to do their job. This investment will make a huge difference for our teams across the province.”

There are about 6,000 volunteer firefighters and 1,200 ground search and rescue volunteers in Nova Scotia.

“When you look at the efforts from our volunteers across the province, investments like this make their jobs easier. It’s tremendous,” said Shelburne MLA Nolan Young.

It was stated during the announcement that by next fall each volunteer fire department will go from four to six radios being provided by the province. Each ground search and rescue team will move from two to six.

The province will also be replacing all older, non-encrypted TMR2 radios with new models.

“Existing radios that do not support encryption will be taken out of service so that all radio channels and talk groups used by volunteer safety organizations will be encrypted,” the minster said. “The volunteer sector is the last sector left to be encrypted. So once this project is rolled out, everybody will be encrypted in the province.”

As for getting the new radios to the volunteer groups, “The Public Safety and Field Communications project team will work with each agency to deploy these radios, deliver training, and schedule mobile installations by fall 2024,” LeBlanc said.

Announcement enhances other services 

Public Safety and Field Communications representatives were present for the announcement, and also displayed one of the province’s mobile communications vehicles. Director Matt Boyle said the new trunked mobile radios (TMR) will enhance the services of the mobile vehicles.

“These vehicles respond to some of the largest public safety events in the province and they tie in with the TMR radio system in a couple of ways. We bring spare TMR batteries, charging capabilities out to the organizations – both volunteer and public sector organizations that would be responding, such as EHS and RCMP and so on,” he said.

“On top of that, we also have linking capabilities in these vehicles. So if we had out-of-province aircraft … and they don’t have access to the TMR system, then we’re able to patch them in through their own radios through TMR so they can speak to those ground crews.”

And, Boyle added, there are areas of the province where TMR coverage can be a little weak.

Generally, those are pretty small areas but when that happens the trucks each have a large antenna mast that can boost that coverage.

“Each event is a little different as far as what we’re actually supporting. For example, the fires in Tantallon and Barrington, we didn’t really have coverage problems, but we did have a need for huge numbers of additional radios, with military personnel coming in,” he said.

“We did do some aircraft linking too.”

Cellular coverage also a concern

Meanwhile, while communication amongst volunteer first responders is critical, so too is the ability for Nova Scotians to be able to communicate and to have access to information to keep them safe in times of emergency.

But cellular coverage has proven to be a challenge at times in many parts of the province.

LeBlanc said the government is looking to address this too. He noted in October the province announced it is investing $47.3 million to start the new Cellular for Nova Scotia Program, which will expand telecommunications infrastructure and communications networks throughout the province to address cell phone gaps.

“It’s a two-phase process. The first thing will be existing infrastructure. We can add additional cell phone infrastructure to it. And then once that phase is completed the government will also look to identify areas that need new towers and infrastructure,” he said.

“It’s an ambitious, but very important project for Nova Scotians. When cell phone coverage is not reliable it causes a concern not just for communication, but also for public safety.”