Sussex has updated its Fire Prevention By‑Law to formally recognize the specialized rescue services its fire department now provides.
The bylaw had not been updated since 2012 and was revised following a 2024 fire service review that recommended modernizing the town’s fire service framework.
Fire Chief Tony Reicker said the update officially establishes Swiftwater Rescue and Wilderness Rope Rescue as services the department is expected to maintain.
He said the change gives the department the authority to continue training members and investing in equipment for those skills.
“Ultimately, it opens the doors to suggesting that Sussex will be providing these services well into the future, and that we can adapt and adjust and invest accordingly to help maintain those levels of specialized skill,” Reicker said.
Reicker explained that the department is building a foundation of trained members before looking at any additional specialized services.
“Once we have a number of members trained in addition to where we’re at now, that may open doors to look at other specialized services and skill sets that may be required to serve our community well,” he said.
The bylaw also merges the former Sussex and Sussex Corner rules following municipal reform.
Reicker said the update reflects what the municipality now needs and helps ensure consistent safety standards across all wards and outlying roads.
Along with the service changes, the bylaw updates the town’s fireworks rules by prohibiting consumer fireworks and requiring applications for display fireworks.
It also aligns outdoor burning definitions with provincial guidance from the Department of Natural Resources and clarifies what materials residents can burn in fire pits and outdoor fireplaces.
Reicker said the changes are intended to improve public safety, reduce avoidable emergency calls and give residents clearer guidance on the services the fire department provides.
