The latest information released by the City of Calgary indicates a significant surge in overdose-related calls for the fire department this year compared to the previous year. Fire Chief Steve Dongworth highlighted that the rise in overdose incidents is part of a broader increase in medical calls, pushing the department towards a potential record-breaking response rate exceeding 100,000 calls.
Firefighters’ roles are evolving, with overdose calls now constituting roughly half of all emergency responses. This shift poses new challenges for the department, impacting service performance and the reliability of units to reach locations promptly for emergencies, as noted by Dongworth.
To tackle these challenges, the department has been assessing the necessity of fire department responses to different types of calls. However, despite efforts to streamline services, the surge in opioid-related incidents continues to strain resources, according to Dongworth.
The emotionally taxing nature of overdose calls is also taking a toll on staff, leading to an increase in members taking leave. Dongworth emphasized the need for additional funding to address these challenges, with heightened budget requests to the city and a plea to the province for financial support to cover the escalating medical response demands, especially related to overdoses.
Addiction specialist and professor Monty Ghosh highlighted shifts in the local drug supply, attributing the rise in overdoses to the presence of more potent forms of fentanyl combined with potent animal tranquilizers in street drugs. This altered drug composition has made overdose responses more complex, requiring increased involvement of emergency medical services and fire departments, contributing to the spike in calls for firefighter assistance.
The evolving drug supply dynamics and the challenges faced by the fire department underscore the growing need for collaborative efforts and additional resources to address the ongoing overdose crisis effectively.