Halifax spent more than $160,000 on the wrong kind of wildfire protective gear for firefighters

Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency recently found themselves in a sticky situation after it was discovered that they had spent over $160,000 on the wrong type of wildfire protective gear. The union for municipal firefighters has raised concerns that this mix-up is just one example of the department not properly preparing for wildfires.

The error came to light in April when it was revealed that the new wildland firefighting coveralls that had been ordered after the devastating Upper Tantallon wildfire in 2023 were actually intended for use in industrial settings. These coveralls, while looking almost identical to the correct ones, do not meet the required standards for working in sustained heat during a wildfire.

Brendan Meagher, president of the Halifax Professional Fire Fighters Association, expressed concerns about the potential risks of wearing the wrong gear in a wildfire setting. He highlighted the increased risk of heat exhaustion and emphasized the importance of having a second set of coveralls for firefighters to switch into during a major wildfire.

The municipality had to scramble to find an alternative vendor due to the scale of the order in 2023, and ended up spending around $167,000 on the incorrect coveralls. Despite the error being flagged as a safety complaint, it took weeks for the department to react and direct firefighters not to wear the faulty gear.

Now, with some of the older, proper wildfire coveralls reaching their expiration date, Meagher is concerned about the potential consequences of only having one person on a crew with the appropriate gear. The municipality has stated that they are looking for ways to ensure that the incorrect coveralls do not go to waste, possibly by sending them to other departments that may have a use for them.

As it stands, about six percent of Halifax Fire members are without compliant coveralls, which will cost approximately $50,000 to rectify. While these members can still support wildfire response efforts in other roles, Meagher stressed the importance of ensuring that all firefighters are properly equipped to handle such situations.

Despite the challenges faced by the department, Halifax Fire continues to prepare for fighting wildfires. All members receive initial wildfire training upon entering service, with refresher training provided regularly. While there have been some hiccups along the way, efforts are being made to address the issues and ensure that firefighters are equipped to handle any wildfire situation that may arise.