Waverely West Station # 15 Commissioning Ceremony:
In our profession, seconds count.
This is especially true in our newest neighbourhoods, where homes are built in closer proximity, with lightweight building materials. They burn hotter, fail faster and release more toxic gasses than traditional building methods.
In 2019, left without a firehall – it was reported that the average response time to Waverley West was 11 minutes and 12 seconds. Twice that of the national standard response time.
We are grateful for this significant step toward addressing the gaps in coverage and delayed response times that residents have been facing in this community for over a decade. A step that will literally save the lives of Waverley residents. At the same time, we look forward to construction beginning on a permeant firehall that can provide the equipment and staffing level appropriate for a community of this size.
Of course, fire stations and trucks are of little value without the men and women of the Winnipeg Fire Department – Special acknowledgments to the Honourable Premier Wab Kinew and MLA for Waverley David Pankratz, who stood shoulder to shoulder with UFFW in 2023 and took meaningful action; announcing funding to increase the staffing contingent of our department by adding 40 firefighters for the community of Waverley West.
