Montreal firefighters will become first responders

Last Updated: Thursday, February 1, 2007 | 10:48 AM ET

CBC News

Montreal firefighters will now respond to urgent medical calls and provide emergency treatment, thanks to a new deal with the city.

The firefighters' union reached an agreement with the city of Montreal Wednesday to provide what is called "first responder service" at every fire station on the island.

First response service can enhance emergency health care because it bridges a critical time for victims waiting for an ambulance to arrive on the scene, said Richard Liebmann, a fire department chief in Montreal. "The Ministry of Health estimates six to 90 lives will be saved annually," he said Wednesday.

All 47 fire stations on the island of Montreal will be equipped to provide first response care over the next three years.

Stations on the West Island will be outfitted first because the need is more dire there, Liebmann said. "The West Island is where the ambulances right now have the longest response time, so that's where we will have an immediate impact."

The deal has angered some in the demerged city of Côte St. Luc, where a volunteer first response team has been providing service for years.

"We have our volunteers [who] are working almost round-the-clock at this point, and we have them trained to a level that is almost twice that of the fire department," said Glenn Nashen, a councillor in Côte St. Luc.

He'd like to see the province allow the demerged city service to continue despite the firefighters' agreement.