County of Brant Fire Services Releases 2025 Annual Report

The County of Brant Fire Services Division is pleased to present the 2025 County of Brant, Fire Services Annual Report. This report highlights the wide range of services provided by the Fire Services team, including recruitment updates, new projects and funding, station statistics, fire prevention efforts, training information, public education and community initiatives, and goals for 2026.

“The annual report highlights the progress our department has made over the past year and the ongoing efforts to enhance fire protection services across the County of Brant,” said Fire Chief Darren Watson. “We remain committed to building a safer, more prepared community through training, prevention, and continuous improvement.”

County of Brant Fire Services consists of an Administration Team and 190 Volunteer Firefighters. The Administration Team is responsible for managing all branches of the division and overseeing daily operations. The Volunteer Firefighters operate from eight fire stations across the County and respond to a variety of emergency situations, including fires, emergency medical incidents, hazardous material releases, and motor vehicle extrications.

In 2025, the total number of emergency responses across all stations was 1,145, representing a 16.5% increase from the previous year. Station-specific statistics can be found in the report.

Fire Prevention and Public Education play an important role in community safety. The Fire Prevention Team supports both businesses and residents in fire safety and fire code enforcement through fire inspections. A total of 422 property inspections were completed in 2025, along with 154 public education activities. Public education is offered by attending community events, schools and seniors’ homes. In addition to the Fire Prevention Team, the Volunteer Firefighters also play an important role in promoting fire safety by attending and hosting numerous community events throughout the year including parades, food drives, pancake breakfasts, fireworks, and open houses.

“The success highlighted in this report is a direct reflection of the people behind it,” said Chief Watson. “Our firefighters and administration staff continually go above and beyond in service to the community, and we are thankful for their ongoing dedication and commitment.”

Additional Highlights of the report include:

North Paris Fire Station #9
The new Paris North Station will be located at the north side of Scott Avenue east of Grand River Street North. Construction began in January 2026 following the award of the contract to Lanca Contracting, with completion anticipated in Spring 2027. We look forward to the station enhancing emergency response capabilities and helping us serve the County of Brant more efficiently.

Annual Recognition Ceremony
At the 2025 ceremony, ten members received Provincial Long Service medals or bars in recognition of 25 to 40 years of service with the County of Brant Fire Department. The event also celebrated the achievements of sixteen new recruit graduates as they officially joined the department.

Station and Frontline Equipment Updates
Through grants and annual budget investments, Fire Services continues to make improvements to stations, apparatus, and frontline equipment. The upgrades this past year help ensure firefighters have the resources they need to respond safely and effectively to emergencies across the County.

Community Safety Reminders:

Flashing Green Lights
To support timely emergency response, County of Brant volunteer firefighters use personal vehicles equipped with flashing green lights when responding to calls or travelling to the fire hall. These lights signal to other motorists that the driver is en route to an emergency.

When a flashing green light is observed, motorists are asked to safely pull over or yield to allow the vehicle to pass. Every second counts during an emergency response, and even a few minutes can make a critical difference.

911 Reminder
The release of the annual report is also an opportunity for the County of Brant Fire Services team, together with our partners in paramedics and police services, to remind our communities of the importance of using 911 responsibly. Did you know that approximately half of 911 calls are non-emergencies? Every non-emergency call can tie up critical resources that could be helping someone in a life-threatening situation. Through continued public education, we aim to reduce the number of non-emergency calls made to 911 – ensuing faster, more effective responses when every second counts. To learn more about when to call 911 and other medical service resources available, visit www.brant.ca/maketherightcall.

For more information on County of Brant Fire Services, and to view the 2025 Annual Report in the About Us section, visit www.brant.ca/Fire.