Latest news with #fireServices
CBC
13-06-2025
- Politics
- CBC
CBRM councillors call for thorough review of fire departments, equipment and staffing
Councillors in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality have called for a full review of volunteer and career fire services over concerns about the number of departments and the cost of staffing and equipping them. This week, Coun. Gordon MacDonald called for a thorough review following talks over a lengthy list of issues raised at last week's meeting. "We know through our discussions at the committee of the whole last week that there are many deficiencies and inefficiencies happening in fire services," he said Tuesday. "We've really got to start identifying where these issues are, what [are] the issues that they're causing to fire services, where the resources are needed the most [and] how best we are able to get those resources to protect the citizens of the CBRM." Last week, the Glace Bay volunteer fire department threw up its hands and ceded budgeting of its operations entirely to CBRM's fire service. At the same time, the municipality's fire chief and deputy chief warned council that more than 20 fire trucks in various stations across the municipality are nearly 25 years old and are about to reach the end of their useful life and could cost at least $20 million to replace. Council also heard from the regional fire chiefs association that volunteer ranks are getting desperately slim. Councillors unanimously agreed to have the chief administrative officer conduct a review, but they did not set a timeline on the review or determine how it should be done. In 2016, CBRM commissioned a consultant to review the fire service, resulting in what's known as the Manitou report. It recommended centralizing control and funding of the entire fire service and eliminating some stations, but that has not happened. Deputy Mayor Eldon MacDonald said that report would be a good starting point. "We need to provide our services [as] fast and efficient to our residents as possible and currently that's not happening and that review is much needed," he said. Two stations in Sydney are staffed around the clock by unionized career firefighters. CBRM also has 32 volunteer departments throughout the county. Three of them — in the former towns of Glace Bay, New Waterford and North Sydney — are considered composite stations that are owned and run by volunteers but also have a full-time career firefighter on hand around the clock. Fire service officials say the rising cost of firefighting equipment and vehicles has made it unaffordable for many volunteer departments to operate as they used to, citing that as the main reason Glace Bay handed its budgeting over to the municipality. CBRM does provide grants for equipment and vehicles, but Deputy Chief Craig MacNeil said a basic truck now costs around $900,000 without the modifications required for local equipment and needs. He would not say that CBRM has too many departments and vehicles, but he has been asking volunteer departments about the possibility of downsizing the fleet. List of pressures going to province "We have 130 pieces of equipment right now in CBRM," he said. "That's the exact same amount of equipment [Halifax Regional Municipality] has. We have a lot of fire trucks and a lot of fire stations." MacNeil said even if a 25-year-old truck still runs, the insurance industry considers it as being at the end of its life, and keeping it in service could cost the municipality and property owners more in insurance premiums. Council has not decided how it will handle the 22 aging vehicles but has agreed to review and consider the list, and Mayor Cecil Clarke said it will be added to a list of financial pressures that CBRM intends to take to the provincial government. The overall review is also expected to consider volunteer numbers, which are a concern as well, Westmount fire Chief Rod Beresford told council last week. Beresford, who chairs CBRM's association of regional chiefs, said even in departments where numbers are higher, the volunteers are not all fully trained. In Westmount, a suburb on the opposite side of the harbour from Sydney, only one volunteer works in the area during the day, Beresford said. And a neighbouring department with more volunteers does not always have a fully trained complement, he said, so backup firefighters might be able to arrive on scene with a truck, but might not be trained to fight a large structure fire. That's why he asked for and got approval for an automatic response from career firefighters in Sydney for any call involving a possible or working structure fire in Westmount's territory. Meanwhile, a provincewide review of fire governance that's also underway is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lakeland Industries Inc (LAKE) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Highlights: Record Sales Amid Margin Pressures
Net Sales: $46.7 million, a 29% year-over-year increase. US Net Sales: Increased 42% year-over-year to $22.5 million. Europe Net Sales: Increased 102% year-over-year to $12.1 million. Gross Margin: Decreased to 33.5% from 44.6% year-over-year. Adjusted EBITDA (excluding FX): $0.6 million, a decrease of $3.2 million from the previous year. Operating Expenses: Increased by $6.3 million or 45% to $20.3 million. Net Loss: $3.9 million or $0.41 per share, compared to net income of $1.7 million or $0.22 per share in the previous year. Cash and Cash Equivalents: $18.6 million as of April 30, 2025. Inventory: Increased by $3.1 million to $85.8 million. Capital Expenditures: $1.2 million, primarily for ERP system investment. Fire Services Revenue Growth: 100% year-over-year increase. Organic Revenue Growth: $600,000 or 2% increase to $36.9 million. Long-term Debt: $24.7 million as of April 30, 2025. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 4 Warning Signs with LAKE. Release Date: June 09, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Lakeland Industries Inc (NASDAQ:LAKE) achieved record net sales of $46.7 million, representing a 29% year-over-year increase. The company saw a 100% increase in fire services products, driven by recent acquisitions. Net sales in the US increased by 42% year-over-year, with organic US growth of 15%. European net sales increased by 102% year-over-year, indicating strong international growth. The company is implementing a new SAP ERP system to enhance and modernize operations, which is expected to support future growth and profitability. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales decreased to 33.5% from 44.6% year-over-year, due to lower margins from recent acquisitions and geographic revenue mix. Adjusted EBITDA, excluding FX, decreased by $3.2 million compared to the previous year, primarily due to higher manufacturing and freight costs. Operating expenses increased by 45% year-over-year, driven by acquisition expenses and higher organic operating costs. Net loss for the quarter was $3.9 million, compared to a net income of $1.7 million in the previous year. Tariff uncertainties caused regional sales delays, particularly in Canada and Latin America, impacting higher margin geographies. Q: Could you provide more details on the headwinds affecting gross margins this quarter and when we might see improvements? A: Roger Shannon, CFO, explained that the total increase in manufacturing costs impacted adjusted EBITDA by close to $3 million. A significant part of this relates to purchase variances flowing through COGS instead of being capitalized into inventory. This issue should reverse in Q2 and Q3 as inventory is sold through. The purchase accounting impact was about a 1% hit to gross margins, with about eight months left on Meridian and halfway through LHD. The cost variance impact was estimated at two to three margin points. Q: What factors contributed to the higher operating expenses, and are there any one-time costs we should be aware of? A: Roger Shannon noted that travel expenses were significantly up due to executive team visits to acquisition sites and the FDIC fire show. These are expected to decrease. SG&A labor costs increased year over year, and outbound freight costs were higher due to inventory movements related to tariff strategies. The company has identified $4 million in potential cost savings, focusing on SG&A discipline, optimizing procurement, and consolidating acquired companies. Q: Can you provide more insight into the growth opportunities in the fire services segment, particularly regarding the head-to-toe strategy? A: James Jenkins, CEO, highlighted increased engagement with customers and opportunities with larger clients, driven by the Meridian acquisition's glove strategy. The company is seeing growth opportunities globally, including a recent deal with the Korean fire department. The head-to-toe strategy involves offering a full range of products, such as helmets, turnout gear, boots, and gloves, to enhance customer engagement and sales. Q: What is the current status of the jolly order with the Italian government, and how does it impact your revenue expectations? A: James Jenkins stated that he will meet with the Italian government to discuss the timing of the jolly order delivery. The delay is due to internal changes within the Italian Ministry of Interior's procurement division. The company remains optimistic about the order, which is an important component of their revenue forecast. Q: How do you view your current inventory levels, and are there plans for further inventory build-up for tariff mitigation? A: Roger Shannon expressed confidence in the current inventory levels, noting that they are well-positioned for inventory from China and Vietnam. The company expects the tariff environment to improve, potentially settling at around a 10% level for Vietnam. They aim to work down inventory levels, particularly in the clean room capacity, which has been shifted from China to Vietnam. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
CTV News
09-06-2025
- CTV News
Motorcyclist taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries
Middlesex County OPP say a motorcyclist has been taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after a single-vehicle crash. On Saturday at 7:35 p.m., police, paramedics and fire services were dispatched to Vanneck Road in Middlesex Centre for the report of a collision involving a motorcycle. Early investigation revealed two motorcycles were travelling together, southbound on Vanneck Road near McEwen Drive, when one rider lost control and crashed. As a result of the collision, the rider was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries. Vanneck Road remained closed for a few hours between Sixteen and Fifteen Mile Roads as members of the OPP Traffic Incident Management Enforcement (TIME) Team assisted with the investigation. The investigation is continuing. If you witnessed the collision or have any information leading up to it, please call the Middlesex County OPP anytime, anywhere in the Province of Ontario at 1-888-310-1122. If you wish to remain anonymous you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) where you may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2000.
CTV News
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- CTV News
Multi-vehicle crash involving tractor-trailer closes section of N.S. highway
An RCMP vehicle can be seen in this file photo. (David Prisciak/CTV News) A multi-vehicle crash involving a tractor-trailer has closed a section of a Nova Scotia highway Monday afternoon. Cumberland County District RCMP, fire and ambulance crews responded to the scene on Highway 104 near Exit 8 in West Chester Mountain around 11:45 a.m. Officers have closed the highway to eastbound lanes of traffic. Police say there have been reports of injuries and the highway is expected to be closed for several hours. Motorists are being asked to avoid the area and to expect delays. Hwy. 104, Exit 8, eastbound, #WestChesterMountain, is closed due to a collision. #RCMPNS, fire services and EHS responding. Please avoid the area if possible. Motorists should expect delays. — RCMP Nova Scotia (@RCMPNS) June 9, 2025 No other details are available at this time. The investigation is ongoing. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
The Guardian
29-05-2025
- Climate
- The Guardian
Hotter and wetter winter on the cards for Australia as SA and Victoria face unseasonal fire risk
Australia's winter will be warmer and wetter this year, with higher than average day and nighttime temperatures, and above-average rainfall likely in central and interior parts of the country. The Bureau of Meteorology's long-range forecast said parts of the tropical north, south-east and south-west could expect typical winter rainfall, including coastal areas of New South Wales affected by May floods, and parts of South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania where there have been prolonged dry conditions. Typical rainfall means a roughly equal chance of above, below or near-average rainfall. Areas of SA and Victoria where there has been record low rainfall also face unseasonal increased risk of fires this winter, according to Australia's fire and emergency services. The forecast follows a much wetter than average autumn for northern and eastern Australia, and a much drier one in the south. The BoM will release more detailed data in coming days but said Victoria had recorded its warmest autumn on record, NSW its second-warmest, and SA and Western Australia their third-warmest. A preliminary autumn summary said the season had been warmer than average generally, with daytime temperatures in the south and west 'very much above average'. The bureau said the above average temperatures would continue through winter, with warmer than usual minimum and maximums likely or very likely in every state and territory. 'We've pretty much got a very high chance of above average day and nighttime temperatures across the country,' senior climatologist Simon Grainger said. 'It's occurring against the background of a warmer climate globally but also we're seeing, across southern Australia in particular, persistent high pressure systems.' Grainger said those systems caused a buildup of warmer conditions and meant a decreased chance of cold fronts pushing into Australia, to bring colder air from further south. The Australian and New Zealand Council for fire and emergency services (AFAC) said the unseasonable bushfire risk potential for southern areas was driven in part by significant and persistent dry conditions. The council said there was an abundance of dry material in both grass and forest vegetation in Victoria, and southern scrub and forest areas of SA. But the council said drought conditions had reduced fire risk in pasture and crop landscapes. 'We don't normally think of winter and bushfire together in southern Australia. The prolonged drought conditions mean that communities across parts of Victoria and South Australia may see more activity than normal for this time of the year,' AFAC chief executive Rob Webb said. 'Fire authorities will monitor the landscape conditions and climate influences closely this season to manage bushfire risk and identify opportunities for mitigation activities such as planned burning.' AFAC said while long-term lack of rainfall had persisted in the south, tropical cyclone activity had continued beyond the typical end of the northern wet season, into May. The council said the higher than average pressure over the south that had contributed to the prolonged dry conditions there was consistent with longterm trends attributable to climate change. They said warmer than average sea surface temperatures were also persisting around much of the Australian coastline, leading to increased moisture and energy that could enhance the severity of storms and weather systems.
