The Municipality of West Nipissing held a Public Information Session on Thursday, June 12, 2025, to discuss proposed adjustments to local fire service at Station 3 (Tomiko Fire Hall).The session provided detailed information about the recommendations outlined in the Fire Master Plan and offered affected property owners an opportunity to share their thoughts and ask questions about response coverage in the area and the proposed closure of the fire hall. A recording of the session will be posted on this page shortly.
Background Information
Ontario Regulation 378/18, under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, requires that all municipalities in Ontario develop a Community Risk Assessment (CRA) by July 1, 2024, to guide decisions on fire protection services. In accordance, the Municipality of West Nipissing engaged a consulting firm (Behr Integrated Solutions) to develop a CRA, the findings of which identified key risks and needs within the community. These findings were then used to inform the development of the Municipality’s Fire Master Plan, also developed by the consultant. The Fire Master Plan builds upon the CRA’s insights and offers a comprehensive series of recommendations aimed at enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of fire service delivery. The Plan aims to ensure that the West Nipissing Fire Service is equipped to meet the evolving needs of its growing community and to provide effective fire protection and emergency services.
Station Feasibility and Consideration
As part of the Station Response Review, the report outlined in the Fire Master Plan examined the feasibility of the existing fire stations and provided considerations regarding the potential closure and consolidation of stations within the municipality.
WNFS operates and maintains 9 active fire stations and 17 frontline apparatus located across the municipality. Many of these fire stations are needing repairs or upgrades to maintain as active stations. The volume of incidents and type of incidents responded to vary across the municipality.
The review concluded that based on historical incident data, potential growth, and overall risk, closing this station, and having Station 2 respond to incidents in the current Station 3 response zone will have limited to no impact to the overall protection in the area.
Discussion at Council
On January 23, 2025, West Nipissing Fire Chief, Frank Loeffen, presented a progress report to Council on the Fire Master Plan, which included a discussion on the recommendation to permanently close Station 3 (Tomiko Hall) and maintain response coverage for this area through Station 2 in Crystal Falls.
At the subsequent Council meeting on February 4, 2025, a delegation of local residents presented their concerns with the proposed closure and requested a public meeting to receive more information and share their concerns.
Council agreed to proceed with a public information session to ensure residents are provided with detailed information on the proposed service changes and are afforded an opportunity to address concerns.
Key Questions
- Expand All
- Close All
Several factors were examined prior to the recommended closure of station 3 and provided in the Fire Master Plan.
These factors included:
- Memberships
- Call volume
- Building capability and
- Response equipment
Station 3 responds to fewer than one incident annually, with only one burning complaint and one false fire call between October 2021 and July 2024. The station apparatus is a 2009 Chevy pickup with a portable pump, offering minimal to no fire suppression capabilities. As of February 27, 2025, no volunteer firefighters are serving at Station 3
Station 2 in Crystal Falls is well-positioned to provide coverage for the area. The station review in the Master Plan concluded that closing Station 3 and having Station 2 cover its response zone would have little to no impact on overall area protection.
Whether the Tomiko Fire Hall remains open or closed, in the event of a 911 call, the West Nipissing Fire Service will respond, with stations 2, 1, and potentially 4 (Field) being deployed based on member availability. Additionally, we have an agreement with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry for support services when needed.
As of February 27, 2025, we no longer have any volunteer members responding from Station 3. If we had memberships at Station 3, the firefighters would be integrated into the fire service team at Station 2.
Council has not made a final decision or voted on the matter yet. The recommendation for closure was based on the findings of the Fire Master Plan. Following the public information session, Council will be provided with a report of the concerns and information shared at the meeting and will review the recommendation and make a final decision on how to proceed.
The closure of Station 3 is still under discussion, and no definitive date has been set. The decision will depend on the outcomes of Councils decision and associated timelines.
The impact of the closure of Station 3 on insurance coverage or premiums will depend on the specific policies of individual insurance providers. Insurance companies often rely on the Fire Underwriter Survey (FUS) Grading, which assigns a Dwelling Protection Grade (DPG) to areas based on fire suppression capabilities (class 1 to 5). Class 1 represents exemplary fire protection, and Class 5 indicates that the area’s fire-suppression program does not meet the minimum criteria to be recognized for fire insurance grading purposes.
Currently, both Tomiko Road and Crystal Falls have a DPG level 5. It’s important for property owners to consult directly with their insurance providers to understand coverage based on your individual policies.
Fire education and prevention are crucial, no matter where you live. One of the easiest and most effective steps residents can take to reduce the risk of fire is ensuring their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are in good working order. Every household should also have an evacuation plan, a designated safe meeting spot outside, and a clear understanding of how to safely exit the home, even in the dark.
Keep a fire extinguisher on hand and familiarize yourself with how to use it, but only if it’s safe to do so. When cooking, never leave food unattended.
Always follow municipal open-air burning regulations. This includes checking wind conditions, avoiding burning near flammable materials, never leaving fire unattended, and keeping water readily available to control and extinguish a fire.
If you live near a lake, consider investing in a portable pump and hose system. This can be used for both fire safety and watering your lawn and garden.
2 in. Gas Emergency Fire Pump Kit
The West Nipissing Fire Department provides various services to promote fire prevention and education, including smoke alarm inspections, the implementation of the FireSmart program, and training on the proper use of water pumps and fire extinguishers.
For more information or any questions, contact Station 1 at 705-753-1171, where a full-time firefighter is on duty and an officer is on call during the week. You can also visit our website at www.wnfs.ca.
Helpful Resources
Fire Master Plan – Presentation to Council
West Nipissing Fire Master Plan
Municipality of West Nipissing Community Risk Assessment
Fire Underwriters Canada
West Nipissing Fire and Emergency Service