P.E.I.'s fire departments face tough choices amid skyrocketing diesel costs and tariffs

Source: Prince Edward Island - Regional News
Date: 2026-10-09 18:00:00.0
Tags: [Prince Edward Island, Public Safety, Emergency, Trade, Energy]

Prince Edward Island fire departments, including the Cross Roads Fire Department in Stratford and the Miscouche Fire Department, are facing significant budget pressures driven by skyrocketing diesel costs and United States trade tariffs on equipment and gear. At the Cross Roads Fire Department, minimum diesel prices on P.E.I. reached $2.55 a litre—more than 50 per cent higher than at the start of the year—causing the department to spend $8,600 on diesel so far that year (double the $4,300 spent by that time in 2025) and pushing total fuel spending past $10,000 against an annual budget of $11,000. Additionally, fire chiefs report that U.S. tariffs are driving up the cost of essential equipment, turnout gear, and specialized apparatus components, forcing departments to weigh cutbacks in training or mental health activities while maintaining that emergency response and firefighter safety will not be compromised.