Dear Editor,
As a Waltham resident, I see the next two meetings in the fire safety planning process as an important opportunity. On Sept. 4, Waltham council will be presented with additional fire maps prepared by Mr. Julien Gagnon. In addition to the map already shown, these are expected to cover evenings, nights, and weekends — periods when our volunteers are more available.
Residents want to understand how this model is being developed. In simple terms, it looks at past 9-1-1 calls, measures response times, and predicts which department would arrive fastest in the future. But if the model is built on only a handful of calls, or if the map reflects mainly daytime data, it cannot provide a statistically valid or complete picture. The ministerial guidelines say mobilization times must be “representative of reality” across all periods and across both on-call and volunteer firefighters.
Waltham’s longtime, dedicated fire chief has publicly disputed the map, raising concerns about its accuracy. Decision-makers should also remember firefighting is not an abstract model — it is lived experience. Most have never held a charged hose or worn heavy bunker gear. To those councillors and politicians standing with Waltham’s firefighters, thank you.
Much has also been made of rising costs, but we have yet to see the breakdown. Flooding, wildfires, evacuations, inflation, and fuel costs all contribute to these numbers. Residents deserve clarity on what such costs really reflect.
Waltham is showing momentum: strong community support and new firefighter applications. The public meeting on Sept. 11 will be the chance for residents to raise their questions directly with our MP, the ministry, the warden, council, and the fire chief. I encourage everyone to attend.
Jordan Evans, Waltham
