Fire Department Master Plan

The Town of Huntsville and the Township of Lake of Bays are conducting a Fire Services Review (FSR) as part of the 10-year Master Plan and are seeking community input on the FSR Survey.

What is a Fire Service Review?

A review of the fire service operations will aim to set key objectives for the Fire Department and determine what is required to allow the departments to provide a full range of services at a desired level while recognizing realities and fiscal restraint.

“As our communities continue to grow, it is integral that our fire services continue to meet the needs of the area," says Fire Chief Rob Collins. "We want to know what is important to our residents with respect to our services and where improvements can be made.”

The purpose of this FSR is to assist both the Huntsville and Lake of Bays in determining the most appropriate structure and delivery model for fire emergency services. With the autonomy provided to municipal Fire Departments by the Province and the Ontario Fire Marshal (OFM), municipalities are coming under pressure to achieve more with less. As a role model for the Province, Huntsville and Lake of Bays are determined to ensure that fire services are provided in the most effective and efficient manner possible and that the resources are aligned with the Fire Departments’ evolving mandates.

Fire Services Review Areas of Focus:

1. Fire Prevention and Public Education
2. Automatic Aid Agreements
3. Department Organization and Leadership
4. Staffing
5. Administration
6. Water Supplies
7. Firefighter Training
8. Fire Operations, Response and Level of Service
9. Communications
10. Apparatus and Equipment
11. Maintenance Program

Provide Your Input - Take the Survey

We want to hear from you, on what you think is important and where we can improve. Complete the Fire Service Review Survey by November 30, 2021 and your feedback will assist in setting priorities for the Master Plan.

Fast Facts about the Huntsville Lake of Bays Fire Service:

• Fire Department services both Huntsville and Lake of Bays Communities
• Five Fire Stations
• Responds to 700 incidents per year
• 6 Full time staff members and approximately 100 paid on-call firefighters