Firefighters say the move is not a resignation
It’s been one week since 12 volunteer firefighters in Sackville handed in their pagers and stepped away from their duties, citing concerns about workplace safety, management practices, and harassment within the fire department.
In a written statement, the firefighters said the move is not a resignation. Instead, they describe it as a temporary step meant to draw attention to issues they say have been raised repeatedly over time and have not been adequately addressed.
They say stepping away was intended to underscore the seriousness of the situation and the need for meaningful action.
Hear the story below:
Municipality says fire protection remains in place
On January 7, Tantramar council held a special closed-door meeting related to a human resources matter. The municipality has not publicly linked that meeting to the situation at the Sackville fire hall.
The following day, the Municipality of Tantramar released a statement saying the matter is being addressed through its Workplace Harassment and Violence Policy.
The municipality also said fire protection remains in place, with coverage continuing through the region’s other fire departments and existing mutual aid agreements.
Province-wide pressures on volunteer fire services
On January 8, Global News spoke with the president of the New Brunswick Association of Fire Chiefs about broader challenges facing volunteer fire departments across the province.
While he could not comment on the Sackville situation specifically, association president Scott Poupart said volunteer fire services are under growing pressure due to factors including an aging workforce, aging infrastructure, fatigue and increased operational strain.
“A perfect example, if we had a forest fire season like we did… it put a lot of stresses on firefighters,” Poupart said, pointing to last summer’s wildfire season.
He also pointed to challenges associated with municipal amalgamation, saying there have been, “very big learning curves on all aspects of running the volunteer fire service in New Brunswick.”
In Tantramar, all three fire halls (Sackville, Dorchester and Point de Bute) remain in place with the same chiefs as before amalgamation, though they now report under a single municipal employer and council structure that is still adjusting to the transition.
A quick search by CHMA News was not able to find stories of fire department staffing shortages since 2024.
These local concerns are not new
Concerns within the Sackville Fire Department are not new. Past reporting by CHMA News, Warktimes and Media Co-op have documented years of staffing shortages, firefighter fatigue, and unresolved workplace issues. That coverage has also noted repeated calls to make public a consultant’s report commissioned following earlier resignations. The report has not been released and remains confidential.
No further public updates have been released.
Clinton Davis is a community journalist and audio producer covering the people, events, and ideas shaping the Tantramar region.
