Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter
Many Gatineau firefighters have to deal with several outdated facilities and equipment that put their well-being and safety at risk. After several requests to the city, the president of the Gatineau firefighters’ union, Stéphane Noël, decided to refer the matter to an arbitration tribunal.
It took more than seven years before the fire station located on Gréber Boulevard received plumbing work. “In 2015, several emails were sent to the employer to indicate that the plumbing in the men’s showers on the second floor was leaking,” explained Stéphane Noël. Due to the accumulation of water, mold formed. As a result, the entire shower area had to be redone.
Furthermore, the air conditioning system at the Saint-Rédempteur fire station was out of service for two summers. “The problem has been resolved on the administrative side, but not on the operations side, where the firefighters spend most of their time,” Stéphane explained. “When they return from their operations, they wear their combat gear, which must be as warm as a suit worn on the moon. The fire station is the only place where they can cool down during the summer, but without air conditioning, the temperature can reach 30 degrees on the second floor. I also learned this week that the request was denied.”
At the fire station on the Plateau, it’s the roof that needs work. “With the recent storms, water started leaking again from the roof to where the gym is located,” he pointed out. “The problem has been persisting for a year.” Moreover, the hose drying towers at all five Gatineau fire stations have been condemned due to non-compliance. As a result, to dry the hoses, firefighters must store them on the garage floor. “Honestly, I’ve visited fire stations in the Dominican Republic, and they’re very similar to the ones we have here,” said Stéphane. “Municipal management is extremely difficult in Gatineau, and there’s no preventive work.”
Other issues include defective garage doors at several fire stations, non-compliant kitchen hoods, end-of-life ladders, and more. “In our vehicle fleet, we have auto pumpers that will soon be 20 years old and are no longer efficient,” Stéphane noted. “In the next 60 days, we will discuss with the city and outline for the employer the corrective measures that will need to be taken to address all the issues in the fire stations. After 60 days, the City of Gatineau will therefore have to provide a timeline for the upcoming work.
Photo: Firefighters extinguishing a fire (May 6, 2025) (MG) Photo: Pixabay.com