Redcliff raises volunteer firefighter pay to help recruit and retain members

Redcliff town council voted Monday to increase pay for the town's volunteer firefighters across several categories, with the Fire Chief's administrative rate climbing from $33 to $40 an hour under an amended Policy No. 051, effective Jan. 1, 2027, according to the agenda package for the Nov. 9 regular council meeting.

The changes also raise the Deputy Chief's monthly remuneration from $300 to $360 and Captains' monthly remuneration from $50 to $75. Fire attendance payments are set at $70 for the Fire Chief and Deputy Chief and $65 for Captains and other firefighters, with any attendance beyond three hours compensated at $22 per additional hour. Practice payments, false alarm attendance payments and summer weekend standby remuneration are also increased under the revised policy.

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Mayor Chris Czember said during Monday's council meeting that the increases would be covered without additional spending. "There's enough money in the budget that it won't affect anything," Czember said before calling the vote, which carried.

Municipal Manager Shanon Simon said the Jan. 1, 2027 effective date was always the intention. "That was the intention," Simon said during the meeting, adding, "Because we discussed that budget." A councillor noted during the same exchange that the increase "is not retroactive, it's as of 2027."

Policy No. 051 Fire Department Remuneration was last approved Sept. 13, 2021, and had included scheduled rate increases effective Jan. 1, 2022. Administration said in its report that the proposed amendments are intended to improve consistency and administrative clarity while supporting the department's existing staffing model, and that the increases are expected to be accommodated within the existing Fire Services operating budget.

The hourly rate for inspections under the regular inspection program also rises from $33 to $40 under the updated policy.

The revised policy takes effect Jan. 1, 2027.