Next week, all Fire Services are supposed to, (well some for sure), switch over to a new numbering system for all apparatus. It will be a 3 digit system with each number meaning something. The first number will indicate the municipality and apparently those numbers are decided based on population size. So for example, St. Catharines would be 1, the Falls 2, Welland 3 through too Wainfleet 12. The second number will indicate the station which the vehicle comes from. The third number will indicate the type of apparatus it is, so 1-4 are for Pumpers, 5 ladder trucks, 6 tankers, 7 heavy rescue, 8 squad units. so for example, Lincoln Pump 3 would become 631, Rescue 3 will be 637. West Lincoln Pump 1 would become 1111, so I assume St. Catharines Pump 1 will become 111. The idea is to eliminate the the use of words not needed and simplifying all apparatus and eliminate duplicate sounding names especially with Dept's that share frequencies and run automatic and mutual aid with each other. From what I've been told, in the beginning the municipalities name will still be mentioned, until everyone gets used to it. This should be interesting. Below is a link to Lincoln Fires wiki page which shows the new system.
Lincoln Fire Rescue Service (Ontario - Firefighting Wiki - Wikia)
Lincoln Fire Rescue Service (Ontario - Firefighting Wiki - Wikia)