Six minutes can draw the line between disaster and relief in an emergency. In Barrie’s southeast, that margin just narrowed with the arrival of Fire Station 6 at the corner of Mapleview Drive East and Prince William Way.
When Mayor Alex Nuttall and Fire Chief Kevin White uncoupled a fire hose to mark the station’s opening, it was more than civic ceremony—it was a promise to a growing neighbourhood. Barrie’s southeast has watched new homes rise and roads stretch further, its population swelling past what existing fire halls could protect. Now, with Fire Station 6 fully operational, that gap is closing fast.
The new facility, a 9,000-square-foot structure, mirrors the scale of other key stations in the city. Its apparatus bay stands ready to launch a pumper truck at a moment’s notice, while the extra bay offers flexibility for emergencies. The living quarters, designed with modern pod rooms and energy-efficient systems, reflect more than just comfort—they signal a shift toward sustainability. The station’s solar-ready, electrically powered blueprint aims to shrink its carbon footprint and operational costs alike.
Twenty new firefighters have joined Barrie Fire and Emergency Service to staff the site, forming four platoons that ensure round-the-clock readiness. Their mission: help Barrie meet its council-mandated target of six-minute travel times for 90 percent of calls. Chief White called Station 6 a “critical addition to our emergency infrastructure,” noting its role as a lifeline for both new and established parts of the southeast, including the Hewitt’s secondary plan area.
Barrie’s investment in the $11.9 million facility doesn’t just pay for bricks and mortar—it buys time, and time, for those in crisis, is everything. The station’s launch arrives as city council also weighs expansion, keeping one cautious eye on future boundary negotiations with Springwater and Oro-Medonte townships.
The public will get a firsthand look during an open house on November 28, where neighbours are invited to meet firefighters, tour the station, and pick up safety tips just ahead of the holiday season. For southeast Barrie, the impact of Station 6 will be measured not in bricks or budgets, but in the reassurance that help is always within reach.
References:
Fire Station 6 opens in southeast Barrie
Barrie’s newest fire hall ‘strengthens the safety net,’ says chief
Fire Station 6 opens in southeast Barrie
