Brantford City Council has approved a new long-term fire protection plan that will expand the local force, upgrade training capabilities, and adjust the placement of fire stations to keep pace with the city’s growth. The plan, which received unanimous support at the April 28, 2026, meeting, provides a roadmap for the community’s safety services over the coming years.
A key focus of the new strategy is staffing the future Fire Station 5 in the southeastern part of the city. To prepare for this addition, the city intends to hire 20 new firefighters and promote four captains over a two-year period between 2029 and 2030. These additions will build on the current workforce, which as of January 2026, included 116 frontline firefighters operating across four existing stations.
The approved document, prepared by Behr Integrated Solutions, also addresses the need for modern training infrastructure. The plan includes the construction of a dedicated facility designed to support live fire training, technical rescue, driver training, and incident command simulations. This addition is intended to improve how crews prepare for a variety of emergency scenarios.
Furthermore, the strategy outlines a relocation for Fire Station 3. Currently situated at the intersection of West Street and Lynden Road, the station is expected to move to an area near the Wayne Gretzky Parkway and Powerline Road between 2032 and 2035.
Josh Van Horne, president of the Brantford Professional Firefighters Association, which represents 144 professional firefighters, expressed support for the initiative. He noted that the plan reflects the lived experience of local crews and addresses survey feedback regarding the adequacy of fire protection in the city.
The current update follows the 2019 master plan, which successfully guided the implementation of several key safety improvements, including the addition of eight firefighters to fully staff the city’s aerial unit.
