The State of the Municipal Fire Department
- Municipal Affairs
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
It’s a new year—and with it comes new challenges, new obstacles, and new problems to solve. But a new year also gives us a moment to pause, to reflect on where we are today, and how we got here.
Municipalities are complex, multi-pronged organizations.
From cleaning the streets, to keeping the water running when you turn on the shower, municipalities are truly the front lines of government services.
They’re the level of government people interact with every single day—often without even realizing it. Today, we’re diving into a part of municipal government that can sometimes be overlooked, until it’s needed most.
Today, we’re talking about the role of the fire department—and the challenges and opportunities municipal fire services are facing in 2026 and beyond.
Are municipal councils underfunding their fire departments? Are we attracting and retaining top talent? And in more remote and rural communities, is the volunteer base shrinking at a pace that puts public safety at risk?
Most importantly, what can mayors, councillors, and reeves do—right now—to turn these challenges into opportunities for long-term success?
To help us unpack all of that and more, we’re pleased to welcome to the show former City of Wetaskiwin Fire Captain and Former Mayor of the City of Wetaskiwin, Tyler Gandam.
This gives him a rare, firsthand perspective on how municipal leadership decisions can either strengthen or hinder local fire departments.
Today, we’ll explore the lessons learned, the realities facing fire services on the ground, and the path forward to ensuring our municipal fire departments are as strong, resilient, and prepared as possible. ------
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