2 days ago
Union concerned about temporary fire station closure in Winnipeg
A fire station in the St. Vital area has been temporarily closed due to needed asphalt work, forcing crews to move to other stations.
The union representing Winnipeg firefighters said a recent station closure—albeit a temporary one—will still have a negative impact on response times in the city.
Station 26, located on Dakota Street, closed Sunday for asphalt repair work, forcing Winnipeg Fire and Paramedic Service (WFPS) crews operating out of the station to relocate to other stations while the work is underway. The closure is expected to last two days.
'Any time roadwork creates a barrier for an efficient response, WFPS crews are relocated to ensure they can respond as quickly as possible,' said Christian Schmidt, WFPS chief, in a statement.
'We strive to keep crews in their assigned station, but in cases where that isn't possible, we work to ensure all areas of the city have the most effective coverage for emergency response possible.'
Crews from Station 26 have been relocated to Station 14, the closest station, for the duration of the closure.
This closure comes a week after the union raised the alarm on response times for a fire in St. Vital that destroyed a home.
Nick Kasper, the president of the United Firefighters of Winnipeg, said the closure of the station, even temporarily, will result in firefighters taking longer to respond to calls.
'You're talking about 48 hours where, if you call 911, you will not have an apparatus available to respond to your home in four minutes,' he said.
Kasper said in the past four years, average response times for fires in Winnipeg have been eight minutes and 20 seconds, doubling the target.
'You're going into work knowing that you're at a significant disadvantage, and we're having to see daily the devastating consequences of those delays and look those victims in the eye,' he said. 'It takes an immense toll on the people doing this job.'
Kasper said the union is calling on the city to invest meaningfully in firefighter coverage and equipment, saying more firefighters are needed to help address shortfalls.
Photo: Winnipeg fire station No. 26 is seen on Aug. 18, 2025. (Scott Andersson/CTV News Winnipeg)
