A new approach to emergency medical response is coming to South Bruce this October, with local officials preparing for changes expected to roll out through 2026 .
Fire Chief Krista Tiernan delivered her latest report to council during the March 24 meeting of the Municipality of South Bruce, outlining what she described as a shift in how emergency medical service calls will be handled. The Medical Priority Dispatching System (MPDS) is designed to sort emergency medical calls based on urgency, allowing dispatchers to decide what level of response is needed before sending crews. Instead of treating all calls the same, the system assigns priority levels so that the most serious cases receive the fastest and most direct response.
“Medical priority calls are coming to the area in 2026 - it’s a new way to handle EMS,” Tiernan said.
For fire departments like South Bruce, the change could affect how often crews are sent out to assist with medical calls. At present, firefighters are frequently dispatched alongside paramedics, even in situations where their support may not be required. The new model is meant to better match resources with need.
Tiernan said the changes are part of a broader effort to improve efficiency across emergency services, while still making sure residents receive timely care. The approach is already being introduced in some regions, giving South Bruce time to prepare before it becomes standard practice locally.
Alongside the planned shift in medical call handling, Tiernan’s report also addressed ongoing updates to the dispatch system. These changes are tied to wider efforts to enhance communication and coordination between emergency services across Ontario.
Adjusting to the updated system has not been without its challenges. Tiernan acknowledged that the transition has “growing pains,” but the department is “overall satisfied with the changes.”
The adjustments include training firefighters on revised protocols, making sure equipment is compatible with new systems, and working through early technical issues. In smaller municipalities, where departments often rely on limited resources, even minor changes can take time to be fully implemented.
Call volumes for the South Bruce Fire Department remain consistent, with crews responding to a mix of incidents such as fires, vehicle collisions, and medical emergencies. Medical calls continue to make up a significant portion of the department’s workload, which makes the upcoming changes to dispatch especially relevant.
Overall, as stated in the report, South Bruce Fire Rescue has responded to 42 calls for service from the beginning of January to March 17th 2026.
By introducing a system that prioritizes calls, the department may see a shift in how often firefighters are required to respond to medical situations. In some cases, paramedics may be able to handle calls on their own, reducing the demand on fire services. The goal is not to reduce service, but to make better use of available resources. Ensuring that the right responders are sent to the right situations is expected to improve overall efficiency while maintaining public safety.
For residents, the changes may not be immediately noticeable, but they could influence how emergency responses are handled. Depending on the situation, fewer or different types of responders may be sent to certain calls.
Council members received the report without raising significant concerns, though the changes are expected to be monitored as they continue to develop.
The Fire Chief reports also provided an update on naloxone use within the South Bruce Fire Department, noting that crews continue to carry and be trained in administering the medication during overdose emergencies.
Since June 1, 2023, the Occupational Health and Safety Act requires workplaces where there may be a risk of opioid exposure to keep naloxone kits on site and have employees trained to use them. Naloxone is used to reverse the effects of opioid overdoses, and its availability has become a standard part of emergency response across many communities in Ontario.
The South Bruce department remains prepared to respond to overdose calls, with firefighters trained to recognize symptoms and act quickly when needed. While the community has not seen the same volume of opioid-related incidents as larger urban centres, the presence of naloxone ensures crews can provide immediate care in critical situations.
South Bruce Fire Rescue proposed a conditional grant funded project to replace air bags and struts used in its stations, with the Teeswater station’s equipment currently out of service and the Mildmay station’s units nearing the end of their lifespan. Applications have been submitted to the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation of Canada and the Trillium Roots grant program. The department is now waiting to hear back on whether either application will be approved.
Participation in the annual “Cause for Alarm” fire safety campaign,, a program supported by Kidde and the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council, was also covered in the report. The initiative allows municipal and First Nations fire departments in Ontario to apply for a chance to receive Kidde smoke alarms with 10-year lithium battery backups. If successful, any devices received would be used to support local fire prevention and public education efforts.
Fire Chief Tiernan also recommended that council apply for funding through Ontario’s Community Emergency Preparedness Grant program, which supports local emergency planning and response efforts. The provincial program is aimed at helping smaller communities build capacity, improve readiness, and strengthen their ability to respond to emergencies.
The grant can provide between $5,000 and $50,000 per project, with funding typically used for equipment, training, and other preparedness measures. Applicants must show how their project will improve local response and resilience, including the ability to manage emergencies and protect residents and property.
Tiernan’s report indicates the municipality is looking to use the funding to support fire and emergency services, aligning with the program’s goal of ensuring communities are better prepared before, during, and after emergencies. If approved, the funding would help South Bruce continue building its emergency response capacity while keeping pace with changing risks and service demands.