Shared Fire Service Agreement

Shared Fire Service Agreement - Niagara West Fire and Emergency Services

The Town of Lincoln and The Town of Grimsby have collectively embarked on a shared fire protection service agreement. Both Councils have approved reports directing their respective staff to proceed with jointly establishing and regulating a Fire Department for the two neighbouring communities in West Niagara.  

The approved plan for a shared fire service allows both municipalities to maximize their collective resources and reduce costs, resulting in administrative efficiencies and additional support for frontline services. This also helps to preserve the volunteer fire service model both municipalities currently employ.

The service was first explored as a response to the Province’s Regional Government Review that was initiated in 2019. While amalgamations did not take place, municipalities were encouraged to explore opportunities for shared services with other municipalities, in the interest of achieving operational efficiencies and focus on frontline services. A partnership between Grimsby and Lincoln was explored due to similarities between the two communities’ populations, demographics, geographic profiles, growth projections and existing fire protection agreements between the two municipalities.

The project has come to fruition thanks in large part to a Provincial Modernization Grant which allowed the municipalities to further investigate the opportunity, and a working group comprised of the Fire Chief and the Chief Administrative Officers, Deputy Fire Chiefs and Finance teams from both Lincoln and Grimsby.

The project got underway in October 2021, and the agreement was renewed in 2024. 
A single fire department has been created with a Joint Advisory Committee established to oversee to provide governance to the service area. A Fire Master Plan will also be carried out through a third party.

Please stay tuned for further updates on this project by visiting this web page. 

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