Carbonear fire chief alarmed by big jump in calls

By Olivia Bradbury / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Emergency calls are up in Carbonear this year, according to Fire Chief Trevor Crawford.

The chief presented the numbers to council at its At the June 25 meeting. 

“To date, we have had 85 (calls) so far this year, which is a little bit alarming as the total last year we only had 79 in the full year,” said Crawford. “So, the calls seem to be creeping up.” 

Since the beginning of 2025, the department has responded to two chimney fires; two vehicle fires; five motor vehicle accidents; six structure fires; nine medevacs; 21 grass, brush, and forest fires; 21 false alarms; and 19 miscellaneous calls. 

The number of chimney fires is down from last year, while the number of structure fires is up. According to Crawford, most of the 21 grass, bush, and forest fires took place during fire bans.

“I’d like to ask the residents to respect the fire ban,” he said. “It’s eating up a lot of resources and putting a lot of danger to the town.

Crawford said he is expecting the calls for medevacs to increase. 

“The Government of Newfoundland now has a contract signed with this travel flight group, so this is going to be the preferred method to transfer patients from Carbonear to St. John’s, Burin, wherever they’re going,” he explained. “It’s a lot quicker for them.” 

Someone from St. John’s will be provide the department with strobe lights for night flights.

“They’re going to do some training with the fire department on night flights and placing these strobes,” said Crawford.

Noting that the provincial fire ban had been lifted at the time of the council meeting, Crawford announced his department too was removing the fire ban in Carbonear. He asked residents to keep an eye on social media and watch for updates, noting the department would play it by ear on a day-by-day basis.