Mount Pearl Mayor Dave Aker and city council joined officials from St. John’s, Paradise, and the firefighters’ union on June 18, 2026, to officially welcome 14 new recruits to the St. John’s Regional Fire Department.
The recruits began their training on June 1 at the Mount Pearl Fire Station on Olympic Drive and the Kenmount Road training tower. After completing the program, they will be assigned to one of eight fire stations protecting St. John’s, Mount Pearl, and Paradise.
The new members will be assigned to one of eight stations across the metro region, according to the department. Fire Chief Sherry Colford, who has led the department since 2018 and is the first woman to hold the position in St. John’s history, oversees the regional service.
The department’s eight stations include the Mount Pearl Fire Station, which serves this city’s residents as part of the regional network. Seven stations are staffed by career firefighters around the clock, while the Goulds station has daytime career crews and volunteer coverage on evenings and weekends.
The recruitment ceremony follows Mount Pearl’s recent commitment of $200,000 in its 2026 budget to implement a Community Safety and Well-Being Plan. Councillor Chelsea Lane serves as council’s lead on safety initiatives, reflecting the city’s focus on strengthening local emergency services.
