When The Border Pulse published its analysis of fire spending and the 746 per cent increase since 2014, readers asked an important follow up question. How did call volumes change over the same period, and did the numbers help explain the rise in operating costs?
Lloydminster administration provided four years of detailed call statistics to help answer that question. The information was handed over without issue and covers 2021 through 2025.
Fire department spending increased sharply beginning in 2020 and 2021 as Lloydminster moved away from a mostly volunteer model and toward a fully staffed service. That shift accounts for a significant portion of long term cost increases and marks the point where both spending and call volumes began to rise together.
A decade of rising demand
The Border Pulse uncovered historical call data not shared by the city. It shows that Lloydminster Fire Rescue has faced steadily rising demand for more than a decade. Between 2014 and 2018, the department responded to an average of 365 calls per year. That changed rapidly beginning in 2019.
The City’s own incident reports show a sharp increase in workload during the transition away from a volunteer model. Total calls rose from 360 in 2018 to 558 in 2019 and 642 in 2020. Motor vehicle collisions and medical assists saw the biggest increases during this period, while alarm calls remained consistently high.
These numbers provide important context for understanding why operating costs began climbing before 2021. The call volume in 2020 was already nearly double the average seen between 2014 and 2016, and the trend continued into the years that followed.
Calls have risen steadily since 2021
The numbers show a clear trend. Lloydminster Fire Rescue responded to 783 calls in 2021. By 2024, that number reached 1,154. In 2025, the department is on track for 1,251 calls.
That represents a 60 per cent increase in four years.
The largest jumps come from medical assists and fire alarms, which now make up over 55% of all responses. Motor vehicle collisions and hazmat calls also increased sharply.
Below is a breakdown of the numbers between 2021 and 2025:
| Category | 2021 | 2025 | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MVCs | 190 | 212 | +22 | 11.6% |
| Medical Assists | 108 | 301 | 193 | 179% |
| Alarms – No Fire | 190 | 364 | 174 | 91.6% |
| False Alarm – Preventable | 78 | 55 | -23 | 29.5% |
| Structure Fires | 35 | 39 | 7 | 11.4% |
| Vehicle Fires | 10 | 15 | 5 | 50% |
| Grass/Brush Fires | 12 | 20 | 8 | 66.7% |
| Gas Alarm | 25 | 31 | 6 | 24% |
| Hazmat | 17 | 25 | 8 | 47.1% |
| Public Service | 24 | 40 | 16 | 66.7% |
Spending since 2021 follows a similar upward curve
On the spending side, the operating budget for Lloydminster Fire Rescue grew from 3.95 million dollars in 2021 to 6.49 million in 2025. That is a 64 per cent increase.
The biggest single year rise happens in 2026, when the cost reaches 8.4 million dollars. That jump reflects the transition to two staffed stations with both full time and part time firefighters.
While the staffing model accounts for most of the increase, the draft budget does not detail how all remaining cost growth is allocated.
Call growth and cost growth appear linked after 2021
The combined data shows a notable pattern beginning in 2021. Call volume increased by 60 per cent between 2021 and 2025. Operating costs increased by 64 per cent in that same period.
The rise in medical assists accounts for much of the workload change. Fire alarms and false alarms have also increased, along with a smaller rise in collision and hazmat responses.
The long term spending increase from 2014 to 2020 reflects the shift away from a volunteer department. The more recent increases from 2021 onward align closely with the service demands shown in the City’s call data.
Why this matters
Residents asked for this context, and the City provided the most recent information to help answer those questions. Council did not receive a historical operating review before the 2026 budget vote, and this reconstruction fills part of that gap.
Fire spending is now one of the largest components of Lloydminster’s municipal budget. Understanding how call volumes and staffing demands have changed helps clarify why operating costs continue to rise.
The Border Pulse is continuing to review earlier City data to better understand several inconsistencies found in pre-2021 reports, including figures that may have been used in the development of the City’s Fire Services Master Plan.
Read more: Breaking: Council clashes as budget passes with 4.08 per cent increase
