Province highlights more than $7 million in new funding for fire and emergency services

The Newfoundland and Labrador government is highlighting more than $7 million in new funding for fire and emergency services as the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Fire Services holds its annual convention in Gander this weekend.

Premier Tony Wakeham and Forestry, Agriculture and Lands Minister Pleaman Forsey reaffirmed the government's support for emergency services during the convention.

Through Budget 2026, the province is providing $15,000 for the association's annual conference, $42,000 for its annual operating grant and $64,000 for the Learn not to Burn Program.

The government says Budget 2026 also includes more than $7 million in new funding for equipment, supplies, staffing, volunteer firefighter training and emergency preparedness.

That includes $4.16 million for the Fire Vehicles and Equipment Grant Fund, an increase of $400,000 from previous years.

Funding has recently been announced for new fire trucks and equipment for the Bay de Grave Volunteer Fire Department, Conception Harbour Volunteer Fire Department, Harbour Main-Chapel's Cove-Lakeview Fire Department, Pasadena Fire Rescue, Steady Brook-Little Rapids Regional Fire Department, Bay St. George's South Volunteer Fire Department and the St. George's Fire Department.

The province says additional funding through the Fire Vehicles and Equipment Grant Fund will be announced later this week.

Other recent investments include:

• $1.7 million for 3,400 sets of wildland firefighting coveralls and $2.9 million for P25 radios to improve communication between first responders.

• $90,000 for ongoing ground-cover wildfire suppression training.

• $630,000 for two specialized sprinkler trailers designed to protect critical infrastructure during wildfires.

• $120,000 to upgrade two mobile command trailers, which were used during recent wildfires in Labrador.

• $770,000 for four enclosed trailers stocked with firefighting equipment and personal protective equipment. The trailers are based in St. John's, Grand Falls-Windsor, Deer Lake and Happy Valley-Goose Bay and can be deployed elsewhere when required.

• $300,000 to continue technology upgrades at the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre.
  

The government describes the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre as the central hub for coordinating responses among emergency partners during emergencies.

The province says orders for wildland coveralls and P25 radios from fire departments continue to be filled as they are received.