Paradise picks St. John's for fire services

Paradise, one of the fastest-growing towns in Newfoundland and Labrador, has decided to have its fire services provided by the regional department based in St. John's.

The town had been considering creating a new service with Conception Bay South and Holyrood.

Mayor Ralph Wiseman said the decision was made "in the best interest of the town" to go with the St. John's regional service.

Paradise will pay roughly $2.5 million per year for fire services.

"There will be a fire station built here in the town of Paradise staffed by 16 firefighters, 24 hours, and equipped with a pumper truck and another fire response truck," he said.

The St. John's Regional Fire Department serves St. John's and Mount Pearl, as well as neighbouring communities through support to volunteer and composite fire departments.

Wiseman said he doesn't see the decision as being the thin edge of a wedge that could lead to amalgamation with St. John's.

He hopes to have a sod turning ceremony for the new fire hall within a couple of months.

St. John's Coun. Danny Breen, who co-chairs firefighting services in the region, said Paradise's decision will only enhance firefighting capability on the Northeast Avalon.

"It also provides some better coverage for the Mount Pearl and St. John's area and certainly in the areas towards Paradise. So it helps for the whole region," Breen said.