Local governance reform: Edmundston’s Fire & Safety Service Optimization

Sep 20, 2023

Since January 2023, when the village of Rivière-Verte, as well as part of the DSLs of Saint-Jacques and Saint-Joseph, joined the City of Edmundston, the Municipal Fire & Safety Service has been serving a larger area. To adapt to the new territory and knowing the challenges linked to the state of the Saint-Basile station, which has been closed for several years, the City of Edmundston commissioned a study in 2022 on the optimization of all fire stations, carried out by Opta Intelligence Informational (OPTA). The firm's main recommendation was to maintain the North station (Saint-Jacques), the Center station (downtown) and the Rivière-Verte station, to ensure better fire safety coverage across the territory.

Assessments and Recommendations

In 2010, a report from Roy Consultants concerning the evaluation of the South station building, located in the Saint-Basile sector, reported several deficiencies at the structural level. Work was then carried out to make improvements.

In 2014, after noting signs of mold, an analysis by RPC Science & Engineering firm demonstrated poor air quality inside the building. A second analysis in 2018 required WorkSafeNB to limit the presence of employees and tenants in the South station, which meant that equipment from the Saint-Basile sector fire department was moved to the neighboring stations. A mention in the NB Land Gazette also identified the South station site as a potential storage site for petroleum products. In addition, surface pipes and pipes from Main Street wastewater collection network pass directly under the building.

Considering these studies, the poor condition of the building, as well as the growing deterioration of air quality, the municipal council approved the demolition of the South station starting September 21st. Building inspectors from the City of Edmundston Development Department will supervise this demolition.

To study the potential for future development of the vacant site, a field assessment of the condition of the soil and the possible presence of hydrocarbons will be carried out. “We recognize that there is a dire need for affordable housing in our city. Our Development Department works with many partners to find possible solutions to this challenge, and this location could serve this purpose, if the site is declared safe,” explained Mayor Eric Marquis. Details regarding the possibility of undertaking such projects will be communicated in due course.

Implementation of a public security complex and development potential

To respond to their needs, the tenants of the Saint-Basile station, the Madawaska Amateur Radio Club Inc. and the North-West Ground Search and Rescue Association, are now installed in the former Rivière-Verte municipal building, which brings this vacant spot since January 2023 back to life, while being close to fire & safety services.

The Municipality therefore wishes to identify this building as a complex dedicated to public safety, for the benefit of the entire municipal territory as well as the region.

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CONTACT: Jacques Doiron, Director of the Fire Safety Service and Emergency Measures Coordinator, City of Edmundston, 506.739-2117