Many changes are taking place in this city in Canada. Paid fire services in the city of Montreal first began in 1863. In 2002, as the result of the twenty two existing suburban fire services including a few volunteer departments were merged with the City of Montreal to form the SIM (Securite Incendie De Montreal), which now serves over 1.8 million people in Quebec. As a result of this merger all of the independent municipalities on the island of Montreal and the City of Montreal now comprises one fire department for the whole of Montreal. Volunteer departments are rapidly being replaced by career firefighters that are being reassigned from other parts of the territory. The department now has 2,300 uniformed firefighters and 400 support staff. The Montreal fire department operates 69 engine companies, 51 ladder companies and these are all housed in 65 fire stations spread throughout the area. During my visit to the city, my hotel downtown was right next to Station 25 on Drummond Street, this is the home of Engine Co. 225 that operates a 1995 Spartan Gladiator (1025 gpm) and Ladder 425, a 1994 Spartan Nova Quintech 30 Meters (100’) ladder. While vacationing in Montreal I had a chance to visit Station 25, I discovered it is one of the oldest active fire stations in the department, built in 1918, it was very apparent the firehouse was being maintained in incredible condition. This was my second trip to the city in recent years, but during this visit I noticed something different about the attitude of the firefighters and condition of the apparatus. The engines and ladders were filthy, and firefighters were wearing some odd ‘Uniforms” that consisted of a mixed assortment of camouflaged pants and shorts, and myriad of foreign fire department t-shirts! Inquiring with the firemen why this was happening they stated In early 2008, they began fighting for higher wages and better working conditions, a battle that has been raging for many years with the government, and they lost. They soon retaliated and began to re-letter the city's fire trucks with Toronto FD logos and banners! Some of the equipment received "City of Toronto" lettering added to the front fenders. These Toronto Fire department logos were modified with center showing the Montreal skyline. Firefighters began to wear Toronto FD t-shirts at the stations all across the city. Neither the city nor the Toronto Fire Service approved of these tactics, but today the practice continues and the use of numerous fire department shirts is quite notable, I even saw firefighters wearing shirts from fire departments and engine companies all across the United States from New York to California, just bizarre! Even stranger I also noticed the homeless person (Somewhat common downtown) pan handling for money across from the firehouse, and he was the only person that had an Incendie De Montreal shirt during my visit, Hmmmm I wonder if the members of Station 25 had anything to do with that since it was their Engine 25 shirt?! I wish the brother fireman well as they battle the city and the fires that occur within it, during my stay the engine and ladder companies were always responding on runs, and I am aware of at least three fires during my stay including a 5 alarm plus that the department fought all day. One of the largest in quite some time according to the firefighters I chatted to on the scene. For well over a hundred and fifty years, Montreal has been the industrial and financial Centre of Canada. The variety of people and cultures combined with the legacy of historic and architectural makeup of the city make this a wonderful place to explore, especially in the downtown area with its shopping, entertainment and of course the Old Montreal Port, makes this a great getaway location with plenty of things to do and see.