Milton is changing and the fire services will have to change with it.
The 2026 Fire Master Plan was presented to council on March 16. The extensive document guides Milton’s plans around fire safety through to 2031.
It includes an overview of risks, an assessment of needed changes as well as the steps and timelines advised to keep the system effective.
Here are four key take-aways from the plan:
1. Response times and how they compare to our neighbours
Right now, we don’t know and that’s something that needs to be addressed.
After a question about local response times, Peter Gatto, Milton’s fire chief, pointed to the report’s very first recommendation.
“That would be part of that first initial recommendation is ‘update and establishing regulating bylaws’ to set performance objectives.”
The plan does state that the Milton fire department should be aiming for a five-to-six minute response time from station to scene within the urban area.
The suggested rural response time from when the phone is answered until the time the initial truck arrives on scene is roughly 15 minutes.
2. Top fire and rescue related risks?
The Fire Master Plan encompasses a time of rapid population growth and the addition of new building types, including highrises.
A Community Risk Assessment was conducted that evaluated Milton’s fire hazards and vulnerabilities. That assessment found several high priority risks including the presence of an aging housing stock and the growth of additional residential units (ARUs).
There’s also a large percentage of vulnerable residents such as seniors, a limited water supply in some rural areas, a major highway and multiple high-fuel-load industrial properties.
3. Are there enough firefighters?
According to the plan, there are roughly 180 full- and part-time personnel with Milton Fire and Rescue Services.
Full-time firefighters work 24-hour shifts on a rotating platoon schedule, balancing to an average of 42 hours per week over a four-week cycle. Part-time — paid-on-call — firefighters are activated for support during high demand periods.
The town maintains the minimum number of firefighters at each of the four stations — 16. The report indicates that in the event of bigger, more demanding incidents the part-time system allows for them to call additional resources to properly react.
Sameera Ali, Ward 4, said she hopes the report can reassure residents that there are adequate firefighting resources in Milton.
“There is a, I don’t know what to call it, but a narrative in the community that we are understaffed, that we don’t have enough firefighters and that we’re at a very risky situation. I think disseminating this information will help allay a lot of those fears,” said Ali.
4. What kinds of incidents are most common?
The Milton Fire and Rescue Services are called on to respond to a wide range of incidents.
Available data between 2020 and 2024, shows an increase in calls for everything from drug-related emergencies to false alarms. The department has also been called upon to support neighbouring municipalities.