Winnipeg, MB – Today, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service released its 2025 Annual Report, highlighting the challenges of rising call volumes and increasing call complexity over the last five years.
“Despite the sharp increase in calls year-over-year, WFPS members continue to deliver high-quality firefighting and paramedic services to Winnipeg residents,” said Christian Schmidt, Fire and Paramedic Chief, Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service. “I could not be prouder of our team for their professionalism and dedication in challenging circumstances.”
In 2025, WFPS responded to 160.2 incidents per thousand residents, including a record number of medical calls.
Medical calls for service
WFPS responded to more medical calls in 2025 than in previous years. WFPS made several changes to use available resources as efficiently as possible.
These changes included updating the medical dispatch system so the most serious calls receive the fastest response, and increasing the capacity of the Enhanced Low Acuity Triage (ELAT) program. Through ELAT, some lower-acuity 9-1-1 callers can speak directly with an advanced care paramedic and receive care and guidance over the phone. In 2025, ELAT handled over 11,000 incidents, and more than 60 per cent of those calls were resolved without dispatching an emergency crew.
In 2025, fire crews handled more than 22,000 medical calls for service without an ambulance being dispatched, freeing up the equivalent of 4.5 ambulances each day to respond to higher acuity calls.
“Despite these improvements, Winnipeg’s emergency medical response system is strained,” said Schmidt. “In 2025, there were a combined 64 hours when no ambulances were available to respond to emergencies. Improving response capacity will require additional investment in ambulances and paramedics.”
Fire/rescue calls for service
Fire/rescue demand also remained persistently high in 2025, with WFPS responding to more than 11,900 alarms and more than 1,000 structure fires. Crews attended many major fires, including incidents involving serious injuries and loss of life.
WFPS continues to see a rise in purposely set fires. While public education and prevention remain important, many of these incidents are not easily prevented through education alone. This adds pressure on frontline crews and fire investigators, who often attend multiple scenes in a single day to determine the cause and origin of fires.
“Fires have serious and lasting impacts on residents and neighbourhoods. Reducing the fire risk before emergencies happen remains a key priority, and our Community Risk Reduction team plays an important role in improving safety,” said Schmidt.
Read the 2025 Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service Annual Report online.