On January 6, 2025, Emergency Services implemented a Staff Health and Wellness initiative - Dynamic Staffing. Approved by City Council as a cost-saving measure in the 2025 Operational Budget, this initiative aims to reduce overtime hours with the goal to support and promote staff health and wellness and to reduce costs while maintaining core emergency services.
This change does not reduce the number of emergency services staff overall but instead adjusts staffing levels where and when necessary to optimize resources while still meeting provincial and national standards. It is all about how and where we assign staff and resources while ensuring residents continue to receive high quality emergency response.
The information below highlights the changes we’ve made, why and how it impacts our employees and residents:
Dynamic staffing is about reducing overtime, which lets us ensure we continue to meet the minimum provincial and national standards as we move employees around to meet these requirements. It is about being nimble in our staffing and adjusting where, when and how needed.
This allows for adjustments in staffing levels based on need without reducing the overall number of emergency services personnel. This does not impact ambulance.
Dynamic staffing addresses two major concerns:
No. Dynamic staffing does not result in job cuts. All emergency services personnel retain their positions, and the initiative focuses on optimizing shift assignments related to fire response rather than reducing staff numbers.
Emergency Services in Red Deer meets all legally required standards. The goal is to respond quickly and effectively to protect lives and property, and in Red Deer, neighbouring stations support coverage when adjustments are made to staffing at Station #2. In fact, when Station #2 is fully staffed, this is an operational enhancement and is not legally required.
We always have and will continue to rely on mutual aid agreements for large and significant events. This is a standard practice in Red Deer and other municipalities.
Yes. The City of Red Deer has and will continue to meet all legally required standards. Ideally, our goal every day is to maintain 31 staff on shift at one time. However, based on staff availability, we may not always meet that target, requiring us to adjust and adapt so we meet minimum requirements, always.
When Station #2 is fully staffed, we operate above the Alberta HIRF standards for required staffing levels (a single family residential fire requires 16). This means we have more personnel than is needed to meet this specific response criteria. It is always our goal to ensure Red Deer remains well protected at all times, and while the operation of Station #2 enhances our service level, it is over and above what is required.
No. Station #2 continues to staff two ambulances during the day and one at night, ensuring ambulance services remain unaffected.
Dynamic staffing helps control overtime expenses within the Emergency Services department, which in comparable cities have been a significant financial burden. In 2024, the City of Red Deer (emergency services) had higher overtime costs than any other city, per capita, By reducing unnecessary overtime, The City of Red Deer is ensuring the long-term financial health of emergency services and the organization, minimizing growing costs and impacts to taxpayers.
Yes. With the implementation of dynamic staffing, Emergency Services has seen a decrease in the number of staff who are unavailable for their regular shifts, enabling emergency services to operate additional fire apparatus. Prior to this change, this was rarely possible whereas, in January 2025, it occurred 34 times, which means we exceeded minimum staffing requirements.
Additionally, data from January 2025 shows a significant reduction in overtime shifts:
Many cities struggle with high overtime costs in emergency services. For example, in 2024:
For further details, please contact the Fire and Emergency Services Department directly.
Here is a big picture look at the numbers. This is what we know right now, and we will continue to assess, evaluate and adjust on an ongoing basis as we implement and adjust throughout 2025.
Dynamic Staffing Infographic (pdf)
By reducing overtime while maintaining full employment and emergency response standards, this initiative ensures The City of Red Deer remains prepared for emergencies while prioritizing the well-being of our first responders and the financial health of our community. The early data already demonstrates its positive impact, and continued adjustments will only enhance its effectiveness moving forward.