Calgary Fire Department: Budget Cuts Ignite Staffing Crisis

CALGARY — Five working fires in 24 hours. That's what Calgary Fire Department crews faced on January 24, 2026, and it's the kind of pressure test that turns budget fights into real-world consequences.

The blaze marathon comes as the city's firefighters are already running lean—a reality shaped by last November's budget showdown. CFD asked for 40 new firefighters to staff a new Cornerstone station. Council cut that request in half, approving just 20 positions to be phased in over time. The department's $265 million operating budget for 2026 was part of a 5.5% property tax hike that left taxpayers wincing and firefighters wondering if the math adds up.

The Cracks Were Already Showing

Fire Chief Steve Dongworth wasn't shy about calling it out after the August 2025 Royal Oak Fire. Big incidents like that pull crews from across the city, leaving neighborhoods exposed. Calgary keeps sprawling outward, but the boots on the ground aren't keeping pace.

Then December's deep freeze hit—temperatures bottomed out at -30°C—and fire calls spiked 15%, mostly from heating gear giving up the ghost. The cold didn't just freeze pipes. It stretched an already thin roster thinner.

Union Calls It Out

The Calgary Firefighters Association isn't waiting around for the next crisis. President Codey McIntyre and IAFF Local 255 ran a public campaign in late 2025 hammering home one point: Calgary's firefighter-per-capita ratio is falling behind Edmonton and Ottawa. The union says burnout isn't just a morale problem—it's a coverage problem.

Five fires in one day just made their case louder. The city can keep growing, but someone's got to answer the call when things go sideways. Right now, that someone is stretched pretty damn thin.