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Montreal Fire Dept: More Fires, Cancer Risks
4 Sep
Summary
- Montreal saw more outdoor fires in 2025 linked to encampments.
- Firefighters responded to 14 disaster plans due to climate emergencies.
- 60% of calls in 2025 were medical emergencies, up from last year.
In 2025, the Montreal Fire Department experienced a notable rise in outdoor fires, with Director Richard Liebmann attributing this increase primarily to a growing number of homeless encampments within the city. While these fires were often minor, Liebmann indicated that the department, in collaboration with municipal authorities and police, is actively working to address the issue within encampments.
The department also faced a surge in climate-related emergencies, necessitating the activation of its disaster prevention and emergency response plan 14 times throughout 2025. Furthermore, first-responder calls, predominantly medical emergencies, constituted 60% of the department's total responses last year. This escalation is linked to Montreal's aging demographic and an increase in chronic health conditions.
To combat occupational health risks, the Montreal Fire Department expanded its team in 2025, adding 11 firefighters and five staff members to its technical services division. This expansion aims to enhance the decontamination of firefighting gear and personal protective equipment, addressing concerns about cancer prevention, given that firefighting was classified as a human carcinogen in 2022.
