The city is looking to add 15 or 20 new firefighters to the Upper Tantallon or Hammonds Plains communities.

It comes after devastating wildfires destroyed more than 150 homes last spring and is in response to population growth.

The change would mean 24/7 coverage from full-time firefighters and remove the need for volunteers to cover evenings and weekends.

Brandan Meagher heads up the Halifax Profressional Firefighters Association.

“We do not have trouble recruiting members to come and work for us, many want to come and work for Halifax Fire,” Meagher explained in a presentation to city council. “In my opinion, we hire 20 new firefighters and they go to Hammonds Plains or Tantallon.”

Meagher believes training for the new recruits could begin at the end of August and they could be working by Christmas.

The city fire budget comes in at $92 million but needs to be approved in the next few weeks.