As a homeowner in the Kawarthas, you invest a lot of time and resources into your property. But how much do you really know about the local services that protect that investment? Keeping a pulse on municipal reports is the best way to stay informed, and the 2025 annual report of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services for Otonabee-South Monaghan (OSM) offers a revealing look at the state of our local safety infrastructure.
I’m Brad Sinclair, your local guide to the Kawartha and Highlands market. My goal is to make sure you have the facts you need to feel secure in your home. Below is a deep dive into the report, breaking down the operations, costs, and equipment updates that affect our community.
The Operational Breakdown: Calls & Response
The report makes it clear: the fire department is the first line of defence for a wide variety of emergencies.
- Total Call Volume: In 2025, the department responded to 441 calls for emergency help, marking an increase of 12 calls over the previous year.
- Station Activity: Collectively, the four fire stations managed 728 individual responses to these emergencies.
- Medical Response: This remains a critical function, accounting for 41.72% of the total call volume, with 184 medical incidents attended to in 2025.
- Fire-Related Incidents: The department responded to 17 fire-related incidents, which included 9 grass fires and 4 structure fires.
- Response Time: The department maintained an average response time of 15:41 minutes.
Costs and Financial Sustainability
The biggest challenge identified in the report is financial—specifically, the rising cost of maintaining high-quality emergency services.
- Average Cost: The department reported an average cost of $217.22 per incident.
- The Funding Gap: The cost of fire equipment is increasing faster than the growth of the township's reserves. The report explicitly states that as we look to the future, it will be tougher to maintain existing services without securing new grants and lobbying other levels of government.
- Budgeting for Protection: The department emphasizes that enforcement activities, such as fire code compliance, are time-consuming and costly, with those expenses borne by all taxpayers through the municipal budget.
New Equipment & Operational Upgrades
To meet these challenges, the department has been proactive in acquiring new technology and tools.
- Drone Integration: The department purchased a new drone and certified members of the fire and public works departments to operate it. It is already being used for emergency response and provides critical data for crew safety.
- Cancer Prevention: In response to the hazards of synthetic materials in modern fires, the department is prioritizing firefighter health. They have added extractors, dryers, field decontamination units, special soaps, and safer bunker gear to all stations. For 2026, they are adding fans and misters to decontaminate gear from airborne contaminants.
- Fleet Updates: The department ordered Pump 2, which was inspected and scheduled for delivery in January 2026.
- Paging & Communications: New pagers were put into operation in 2025 to align with the new paging agreement with Bell.
Training and Legislative Standards
The department is heavily invested in ensuring that its 81 personnel (as of Dec 31, 2025) are ready for any scenario.
- Training Hours: Personnel logged 2,807 training hours in 2025, in addition to over 4,265 hours spent on emergency responses.
- Certification Requirements: A major deadline is approaching: as of July 1, 2026, all fire personnel must be certified to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard for the tasks they perform.
Property Impact: What This Means for You
When you buy or sell a home, you are investing in a community. The strength and capability of your local fire department directly affect your property’s safety and, by extension, its long-term value.
- Stay Vigilant: With the report noting that equipment costs are rising faster than reserves, pay attention to upcoming municipal budgets—these decisions will dictate how our department manages its resources and how it might impact property taxes.
- Burn Safety: The report highlights a 7-week burn ban in 2025 due to dry weather. Always use the automated burn permit system to avoid significant fines and keep our community fire-safe.
Let’s Chat
Navigating municipal reports shouldn't be another chore on your list. That’s where I come in. As your local expert with over 20 years of experience, I am here to help you understand the landscape of our region so you can make confident decisions about your home.
Don't wait for a problem to arise. Call or text me today at 705-927-6236 to discuss your real estate needs.
Brad Sinclair, your Kawartha and Highlands Realtor®. I'll come to you to solve your real estate needs. DM or text me to get started.
Questions? Let’s chat. 📞 705-927-6236 👤 Brad Sinclair | Re/Max Professionals North 📍 Your Inside Source to the Highlands/Kawartha Real Estate Market.
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