MELVILLE — Fire Chief Aaron Buckingham is settling into his new role with enthusiasm and resolve, describing his first few months on the job as both fulfilling and fast-paced.
Since stepping into the position earlier this summer, Buckingham has overseen a notable increase in emergency responses across the city.
“It’s been a busy summer, but the community has been fantastic,” Buckingham said during a recent interview. “We’ve participated in a wide range of events — from library visits and school programs to daycare tours — and of course, responded to fires and other emergencies.”
In a presentation Monday to city council, Buckingham reported that the department has responded to 75 incidents so far in 2025. This exceeds the year-to-date average from 2024 and suggests the department may surpass last year’s total of 91 calls.
The calls have included vehicle fires, a significant structure fire in August, STARS air ambulance landings, and various other service-related incidents.
Buckingham also raised concerns about the growing number of false alarms, urging residents to ensure their smoke detection systems are properly maintained.
“We prefer education over enforcement,” he said. “Functioning alarms not only reduce unnecessary dispatches — they’re critical to protecting lives and property.”
With autumn approaching, Buckingham reminded residents to check smoke alarm batteries during seasonal time changes, even though Saskatchewan does not observe daylight saving time. He added that Fire Prevention Week in October will offer further opportunities for public outreach and education.
As emergency call volumes continue to rise, Buckingham acknowledged the increasing demands on Melville’s volunteer firefighters.
“Our crew is dedicated and hardworking, but we’re always looking to strengthen our team in numbers,” he said. “More calls mean more training, more effort, and a greater need for community support.”
