Leduc County Fire Services
40 anniversary th
1976 • 2016-
Commemorative newspaper
August 27, 2016
Plans underway for Nisku fire hall The Leduc Representative Aug. 25, 1976 Nisku and area is one step closer to acquiring a permanent fire hall for its volunteer brigade. Leduc County council decided Wednesday, Aug. 11 to hire an engineer to prepare plans and specifications for the building.
Celebrating 40 years Leduc County is proud to celebrate 40 years of outstanding service by its fire service personnel. In the following pages, you will take a walk through our history, from humble beginnings to today’s multimunicipal partnerships that ensure high-quality service to all regional citizens.
Fire service established Leduc County Fire Services was established in 1976 following rapid growth in the Nisku Industrial Business Park. The park, established in 1972, grew from 80 acres to more than 500 acres in its third year.
A group of roughly 15 volunteers formed the first fire brigade in the area in 1976, which was led by Fire Chief Maurice Johnson. The Nisku Fire District Station was built shortly after, in 1977, at a cost of just $210,000. By 1984, there were four vehicles stationed in Nisku, which prompted the station to double its size; the station would further expand in 1996 to accommodate demand. In 1985, the first full-time fire chief, Harvey Dussault, was hired to lead a growing department. See “40 years” on page four.
The firefighters’ steering committee met Monday evening, Aug. 16 to review the hall’s preliminary plans. Those present – three Nisku fire department members, two county council representatives and the engineer – were generally satisfied with the project’s design, according to county councillor Dan Chalifoux. See “Hall” on page two.
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Hall
County plans expansion of Nisku fire hall
Continued from front page.
Nisku and area Fire Chief Maurice Johnson is excited about the prospects of a new hall. “It’s like moving into a new house,” he commented. The fire hall’s exterior will measure 70 feet by 80 feet with room inside for four vehicles. Designers were ‘looking into the future’ and allowing for eventual expansion of the fire department, Johnson explained. The brigade currently owns one fire truck which is housed in a temporary ‘gratis bay’ in the Nisku Industrial Business Park. The volunteer brigade works on a two-crew system, the fire chief continued. One crew, available for the daytime shift, is manned by the industrial park workers. The other, an evening-and-weekend crew, is composed of people who live in the area. Each crew has about 18 members who were fortunate enough to get some training at the Vermillion fire training school, Johnson noted. “Planning for the new building began three months ago,” Councillor Chalifoux, a Niskuarea representative, said. “And the hall will hopefully be ready for occupancy this fall,” Leduc County secretary-treasurer Fred Rolof added.
Ben Hansen
The Nisku Fire District Station, pictured above, underwent a $107,000 expansion in 1985 to accommodate more equipment and personnel.
The Leduc Representative July 10, 1984 The Nisku fire hall is growing. County council June 29 ordered the drafting of plans to enlarge the fire hall shop from two bays to four. The project is expected to double the amount of shop space available. The expansion reflects increased activity and a greater need for indoor storage space, explains Councillor Albert Klapstein. One example of the increased demand for space is the emergency rescue van, formerly headquartered at the county administration office in Leduc. The county moved the van to the Nisku fire hall in April, to be operated by members of the Nisku volunteer fire department.
The recently-organized Nisku Rural Fire Protection Association is planning to purchase a 3,000-gallon tanker truck and store it at the hall, Klapstein says. Adding to the demand for space will be a new airport fire truck. To be owned by the county and stored at the Nisku hall, the truck’s first priority for service will be the structure fires at the Edmonton International Airport. On June 29, council ordered administration to draw up specifications for the new airport truck. The old airport pumper is being used by the Nisku Rural Fire Protection Association and continues to be stored in the Nisku fire hall.
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Rescue unit serves county from Nisku Sole ownership of unit transferred to Leduc County Nisku News June 25, 1984 Nisku Fire Chief Ben Hansen opens the rear door of the rescue unit, exposing an array of emergency equipment. The hydraulic jaws can force open a badly-smashed car door. The rubber air-lift bags will easily lift an overturned tractor off a freshlyploughed field, freeing the injured driver pinned underneath. The air chisel can cut gaping holes in the side of a door, giving firefighters badly-needed access to the locking mechanism. Since April, the bright orange rescue van formerly headquartered at the County of Leduc administration office has been based at the Nisku fire hall, explains Hansen. The move follows the transferring of sole ownership to the county, he says. The Nisku fire department has been busy learning the operation of the life-saving equipment; the more experienced firefighters teaching the less experienced, everyone getting a chance to practice. Available for use anywhere in Leduc County, the emergency equipment may be called into service only three or four times per year, Hansen says.
Ben Hansen
The rescue unit provides firefighters with life-saving equipment that is used when responding to an array of emergency calls in the county.
The firefighters have to stay alert and primed for that unexpected day when a call arrives.
cutting torch, a flood light system, breathing apparatus and a variety of ropes and slings.
The Nisku firefighters meet each week to learn the function of the various pieces of equipment, using old and wrecked cars supplied by Nisku Towing, Auto Rescue and Black Gold Auto Parts.
The use of the equipment isn’t restricted to vehicle accidents, Hansen notes.
Among the other support equipment ready to be called into action is a
This vehicle was replaced in 1998; view “Leduc County Fire Services receives new rescue truck” on page seven to learn more.
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New Nisku fire chief appointed The Leduc Representative Jan. 29, 1985 A new chief for the Nisku fire station was selected after five applicants were interviewed by the county last week. Harvey Dussault will fill the position commencing Feb. 4, confirms secretary-treasurer Fred Rolof. Twenty applications were received by the county, but Dussault was chosen because of his training and experience, Rolof says. “It was competitive — they all had very similar qualifications, which made it difficult for the selection committee,” he adds. Dussault has been employed by the fire services advisory division of the provincial fire prevention branch for the past four years. Prior to that, he was a firefighter in Spruce Grove before becoming the town’s assistant fire chief. Dussault will replace interim fire chief Ben Hansen, who assumed his duties at Nisku during his “off ” time while maintaining employment with the City of Edmonton. The 15-year professional firefighter has served as interim chief since March. As head of the Nisku fire department, the chief ’s responsibilities extend beyond overseeing a crew of 15 volunteer firefighters — a squad which is expected to grow in number. Rolof said the county will be soliciting the services of additional firemen.
40 years Continued from front page.
When he moved careers in 1987, Bob Galloway took his place and would lead the service from 1988 to 2012. Fire Chief Darrell Fleming assumed the role in 2012 and remains a fierce leader of and advocate for Leduc County Fire Services.
Partnerships benefit region Over the years, Leduc County Fire Services has developed strong relationships with regional partners. It maintains cost-sharing partnerships with the City of Leduc, Town of Calmar, Village of Warburg, Town of Millet and the Edmonton International Airport, and has mutual-aid agreements in place with all municipalities in and neighbouring Leduc County. These agreements ensure all available resources can be called upon in the event of an emergency requiring response from multiple departments. Leduc County looks forward to further collaboration with regional partners.
Firefighters are vital resource Volunteer, on-call firefighters are a vital component of Leduc County Fire Services; without these men and women, we would not be able to protect lives and infrastructure in the community. These men and women are trained to professional standards, and have the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience at Leduc County’s Regional Fire Training Facility, located at the Nisku Fire District Station. This facility offers a welcoming environment for firefighters from all over the region to practice and enhance their skills under live-fire training conditions in order to increase their preparedness for emergency response. Roughly 600 firefighters from across the country train at this facility each year. Leduc County Fire Services has celebrated many successes in the last 40 years, and looks forward to greater accomplishments in the future. As we celebrate 40 years, we’d like to recognize and thank the men and women who are responsible for our successes: thank you from Leduc County.
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Fundraising nets new fire equipment Nisku Volunteer Firefighters Association raises $10,000 The Leduc Representative Oct. 14, 1992 The Leduc County fire hall in Nisku was ablaze with interest Oct. 6, over the new confined-space rescue equipment the firefighters have acquired. County councillors and businessmen as well as interested friends and family were on hand at the hall’s open house to watch a demonstration of the equipment and enjoy a barbecue. “There had been several incidents in the Nisku Industrial (Business) Park where workers had been trapped inside tanks for various reasons,” said John Schonewille, president of the Nisku Volunteer Firefighters Association. “Most recently in May this year, two workers were seriously burned when a flash fire occurred in a tank in which they were working.” “There was a need,” he continued, “for rescue personnel to enter the tank in a hazardous atmosphere to extricate one victim. This call graphically illustrated the need for specialized rescue equipment.” As a result, said Schonewille, the volunteer firefighter association made a decision to start the fundraising drive. “I am here today to say thank you to those businesses, groups and individuals who supported our appeal,” he said, of the $10,000 goal the department was able to meet.
“(Donors’) generosity will enable the fire department to provide specialized service which is not presently available in this area.” —John Schonewille, president of the Nisku Volunteer Firefighters Association “Their generosity will enable the fire department to provide specialized service which is not presently available in this area.” The equipment includes items like a Rollgliss (an ascending/descending device for going up and down vertical spaces), as well as a fall-arrest system and a sked (an orange flexible board which allows immobilization and transport of injured people), and a ked (a green flexible device which immobilizes the spine for tight-space rescue of injured). “We’re not quite finished,” said Schonewille. “There are loose ends to tie up and some more purchases to be made but the appeal allowed us
The Leduc Representative
Nisku fire captain Paul Robb descends down to the injured party while at left, he and firefighter Kelly VanDerberghe slide injured party Rene Marchand onto the sked, one of the new pieces of equipment bought with funds raised by the department.
to purchase the major capital items needed for the project.” County councillor Norman Scheetz was pleased about the department’s success in raising the funds for the equipment. “Those funds were not included in the 1992 budget – I think the firefighters deserve thanks for their special effort.”
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County firefighters take gold and bronze The Leduc Representative Aug. 4, 1996 Firefighters from Leduc County Fire Services showed their world-class abilities last week, winning gold in the extrication competition’s unlimited class at the fourth World Firefighters Games. The seven-person squad, consisting of Darrell Fleming, Randy Schmitz, Graham Clark, Laurie Borden, Wayne Shield and alternates Michel Mercier and Kelly Borden, also took bronze in the overall skills category. “It was great,” said Fleming, the team’s captain, of winning gold in the competition in Edmonton, which included teams from Australia, New Zealand, northern Alberta, B.C. and Saskatchewan. “There was a lot of whooping and hollering, that’s for sure.”
“There was a lot of whooping and hollering, that’s for sure.” —Darrell Fleming, team captain The two-day competition was held July 30 and 31 at Edmonton Northlands in front of the Agricom. The first day’s competition was in the unlimited class, where firefighters were able to use all the equipment available to them, including the larger hydraulic tools. The second day was for limited class competition, where each team was limited to hand-held tools. Each day the teams were given 20 minutes to extricate two victims from a vehicle collision scene, which was changed for each new team. Competitors were judged on various aspects of the rescue and assigned points, said team organizer Schmitz. “What they’re most concerned with is patient care and rescuer safety.” Fleming said he felt good about the team’s performance after the first day, but pointed out they didn’t know where they stood after the unlimited competitions because scores weren’t posted. “You’ve got to remember there were a lot of good teams that were competing.”
The Leduc Representative
Leduc County Fire Services claimed gold and bronze medals at the World Firefighters Games in Edmonton July 30 and 31, 1996.
In day two of the competition, he said, the team made a couple mistakes. Not enough mistakes, it turned out, to push them out of the bronze medal position for overall skills, which was based on total points for both days. Fleming attributed the squad’s success to teamwork. The team was put together about a month before the games, he said, but gelled right away. “There was some good chemistry here. We came together very quickly.” He thanked Big Iron Appraisals for supplying personal protection for the team. Fleming said as a result of the team’s showing at the games the department will likely enter more competitions next year on a regional and national level.
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Leduc County Fire Services receives new rescue truck $175,000 vehicle replaces 20-year-old cube van The Leduc Representative Oct. 4, 1998 The fire department has just received a new rescue truck. With an estimated cost of approximately $175,000, the new unit was built in Brampton, Ont., and will be based at the Nisku fire station where it arrived in early September. It will replace a 20-year-old cube van and will allow five firefighters to ride in an enclosed cab, which is particularly helpful during winter. Also, the truck has an area that allows firefighters to rest and warm up during winter, and cool down during summer. The new unit will carry all rescue tools and additional equipment needed by firefighters in a variety of emergencies.
The rescue unit obtained in 1998 served the Nisku Fire District Station.
It also features an on-board generator that will provide more than 4,000 watts of lighting to illuminate emergency scenes and to provide power to electric tools used for rescue. The rescue truck will also carry large air cylinders to allow recharging of firefighters’ breathing air bottles or
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to allow the use of air-operated tools, such as chisels to cut open damaged vehicles. View “Rescue unit serves county from Nisku” on page three to learn more about the 20-year-old cube van that was replaced.
40 years of Leduc County Fire Services fire chiefs Maurice Johnson 1976 to 1981
Ben Hansen 1984 to 1985
Bob Galloway 1988 to 2012
Gordon Keeley 1981 to 1983
Harvey Dussault 1985 to 1987
Darrell Fleming From 2012
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Fire services hires volunteer coordinator Those practices will be assessed and revised as necessary according to the needs of the organization and individual volunteers, she said.
The Leduc Representative April 24, 1998 Leduc County Fire Services has hired a coordinator of volunteer services to help with the recruitment and retainment of long-term volunteer firefighters.
“What’s here is excellent. We just need to enhance it,” said Meidinger. “The ultimate goal is to investigate what is happening with the recruitment and retention program as it exists and what we can do to make it better for the future.”
County resident Joan Meidinger started her newly-created position on Monday. “The core function (of the coordinator position) will be to develop a recruitment and retention program,” said Meidinger, who previously worked as a volunteer coordinator for the Valley Zoo, John Jazen Nature Centre and the Good Samaritan Society. Recruitment and retention of firefighters is a critical issue facing Leduc County Fire Services, which draws its volunteers from Nisku, which isn’t a stable community base. In the past seven years, 23 out of 49 firefighters recruited to the service have resigned and each year the
The Leduc Representative
Joan Meidinger was hired in 1998 as Leduc County Fire Services’ first-ever volunteer coordinator. She continues to hold that position, which is the first of its kind in Western Canada.
department is then forced to spend time recruiting and training new volunteers. Meidinger plans to work with volunteer firefighters and management to evaluate volunteer practices already in place.
In addition to developing the retention and recruitment program, Meidinger will also be responsible for developing a communications strategy for the organization, coordinating fundraising programs and other administrative duties. Her position runs until Dec. 31, with the possibility for extension. Joan Meidinger continues to lead the recruitment and retention program with Leduc County Fire Services as the volunteer coordinator.
Lifecycle of a logo The Nisku Fire Department logo, left, depicted a goose, as the name “Nisku” is Cree for “wild goose.” The logo has evolved into the current-day logo to the right, which features elements of Leduc County’s municipal logo.
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New aerial fire truck arrives in Nisku The Leduc Representative July 16, 1999 Firefighting in Nisku and area has been taken to new heights thanks to the purchase of a new aerial fire truck for Leduc County Fire Services. Keys for the $458,000 fire truck were handed over Monday night to county Reeve Bill Cowan, Fire Services Committee chairman, by Harvey Dussault, representing Superior Emergency Vehicles of Red Deer.
Versatile unit “It’s a very, very versatile unit,” explained Leduc County Fire Services fire chief Bob Galloway. “It can do a multitude of tasks with it and I think it’s going to be a credit to the community for many, many years.” The truck can carry five firefighters who are able to put on their breathing apparatus and air tanks and be ready when the vehicle reaches the emergency scene.
4,000 litres of water a minute The new aerial ladder truck has several unique features, including a telescopic boom which can reach a height of 23 metres and deliver up to 4,000 litres of water per minute from its automatic nozzle. A ladder with safety rails extends the full length of the boom, allowing firefighters access to roofs or upper storeys of buildings. “When you have to get men on the roof of some of these larger two-storey houses, the ladders are an insecure way, where as the ladder truck itself is a really good option to get people onto the roof and makes those vent holes,” explained Cowan. The aerial truck also ensures the department’s ability to fight fires and perform rescues in case of fires in some of the taller buildings located in Nisku, the Nisku Industrial Business Park and at the Edmonton International Airport. “There’s no question we need it in this area, given the risk and the size of the buildings in this area, both at the airport and in Nisku. We need an elevated stream device of this type with the capacity of also using it as a ladder (truck),” explained Galloway.
The Leduc Representative
Deputy fire chief Graham Clark (right) discusses the finer points of the new firefighting vehicle which has a 23-metre telescopic boom.
Cowan agreed. “We see some of the new apartment buildings which have gone up...four floors, five floors and you have to have the ability to rescue from that height or get water onto the building at that height. This really adds to that capability,” said Cowan. “We service the airport. We’re seeing a bigger terminal, parkade, so with all those different types of structures, getting access to them, the more versatility it enhances your ability to fight a fire.” It replaces the Nisku fire department’s 1970 ladder truck, which was in service for almost 30 years. The old ladder truck, which could only carry two firefighters, did not meet current safety standards and did not have a pump and water tank. Parts for the vehicle were also becoming hard to obtain. As part of the mutual-aid agreement with neighbouring municipalities, the aerial truck will be available to assist with other fire departments if necessary.
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New Sarepta fire department builds new hall The Leduc Representative Oct. 3, 1999 The New Sarepta volunteer fire department has a new home. Since moving into their new spacious facility in early 1999, the department has been experiencing some firsts. It’s the first time the department has had a dedicated communications area, and separate offices. For the first time, New Sarepta hosted a Firefighter Part I course which firefighters from surrounding communities were able to attend. New Sarepta firefighters participated in a vehicle extrication course, something new to the department. It’s also the first time since the county took over the department that it has a full roster of 18 members. “It’s nice to have a full department,” said Fire Chief Roger Anger. In January, the department began attending motor vehicle accidents. Previously, they would attend for fire suppression only. The department doesn’t do medical response. Future plans include hosting a Fire Attack course for their own and surrounding department members, said Anger.
The Leduc Representative
Reeve Bill Cowan (driving) cuts the ribbon to officially open the New Sarepta Fire District Station.
So far in 1999, as of the end of September, members had done a total of 1,120 volunteer/paid training hours. They also plan to help train all members in better strategy tactics, he said. This year, New Sarepta firefighters have seen a mix of structural and grass fires, with their numbers being higher than last year. The department has also acquired some new equipment with “makes us more efficient and effective,” said Anger. The Leduc Representative
New Sarepta firefighters demonstrated a cooking fire at the grand opening of their new building in May 1999.
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Partnership continues to get stronger after 16 years Leduc County 2000 In the fall of 2000, Leduc County and the Edmonton International Airport (EIA) solidified an Emergency Response Services Partnership, which enhanced the urban response level in the region. Leduc County initially funded four EIA firefighters, with the EIA matching this support, resulting in two firefighters per shift. A rapid response unit – comprised of two Leduc County firefighters from the Nisku Fire District and two firefighters from the EIA all responding in a countyowned structural pumper – met minimum service levels for manpower and response times to all groundside emergency events at the EIA and Nisku Industrial Business Park. On-call firefighters stationed in the Nisku Fire District are also prepared to respond to events, as required. After 16 years, the partnership has evolved. In 2009, the partners jointly purchased a structural pumper to serve the area, and Leduc County now funds four EIA firefighters per 24-hour shift, to meet the need at the Edmonton International Airport and the Nisku Industrial Business Park.
Leduc County
Leduc County Fire Services and the Edmonton International Airport have partnered for emergency services since 2000.
Together, the partners jointly fund firefighter training to maintain firefighters’ skills, with events such as mass casualty incidents medical training, structural firefighting drills, internationally-recognized driver training and aircraft firefighting drills. This partnership benefits all regional residents, and Leduc County Fire Services looks forward to continually strengthening this partnership.
Nisku firefighter takes on the world at Games The Leduc Representative Oct. 13, 2000 A local firefighter has brought home the gold from the 2000 World Firefighting Games. “All that training paid off,” said Jan Garvey, a firefighter with the Nisku volunteer firefighter department and first place finalist in the body building competition at the games. Garvey, along with her husband
Dave Monilaws, was in France to complete in the sixth annual games held July 6 to 13.
Garvey competed in the French Toughest Firefighter Alive (TFA), and placed fifth overall.
More than 6,000 athletes from 50 different countries competed in the games which highlight various firefighting skills. Those events feature athletic and recreational competitions as well as industryspecific challenges such as vehicle extrication, high-angle rescue and life support.
“It was something!” she said. “I completed it and that was what we wanted to do. It was fun.” As well as the gold in body-building and the fifth in TFA, Garvey teamed up with a German competitor to take home the bronze medal in doubles beach volleyball and placed seventh in the cross-country run.
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Nisku facility trains firefighters nationwide Roughly 600 firefighters train at the facility annually Leduc County Oct. 4, 2002 Leduc County is home to an essential training tool that helps firefighters from across Canada gain the lifesaving skills they demonstrate on a daily basis. Located at the Nisku Fire District Station is the Regional Fire Training Facility, which opened on Oct. 4, 2002. Since its creation, the facility has become an essential training tool for thousands of firefighters from as far away as James Bay, Que. A variety of structures and props at the facility mirror the real-life scenarios firefighters could face in their communities; the facility provides the roughly 600 firefighters who train at the facility each year with an ideal venue to enhance and challenge their skills.
Liquefied petroleum gas training props and simulators The liquid petroleum gas training structure is designed to simulate what firefighters could potentially encounter when dealing with pressurized gases.
Leduc County
Roughly 600 firefighters train annually at the Regional Fire Training Facility in Nisku.
The two-level structure houses a gas riser pipe, upper and lower flanges and a compressor motor fire prop. The training objectives of the structure are to control and contain fires through the use of the team application of hose and nozzle manipulation techniques. This tool demands and challenges teamwork, leadership of attack, and safety.
Live fire structure
Leduc County
Liquified petroleum gas training props and simulators replicate fire conditions involving pressurized gases.
The live fire structure provides firefighters with the opportunity to learn proper tactical techniques of rescue, attack, ventilation and safety under live fire conditions.
This structure consists of two large metal buildings designed to burn Class “A� combustible materials. These buildings have six movable interior doors that can be rearranged to change the floor plan. The second floor allows crews to conduct searches on a two-story building or simulate a below-grade basement scenario. A set of outside stairs to the roof has two working platforms where vertical ventilation can be simulated through a designated hatch. This structure is also designed to accommodate confined space and rope rescues from the working platform on top of the building.
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Spilled liquid fire simulator
Cold smoke building
The spilled liquid fire simulator demands exceptional teamwork to control the simulated spilled liquid fire through the use of hose and nozzle manipulation, water fog application and simulated foam extinguishment.
The cold smoke building is used for search-and-rescue, confined-space rescue and self rescue training, all done while dense theatrical smoke fills the structure.
This prop demands a full understanding of control techniques based on the principles of nozzle patterns and their effects on spill fire situations under live fire conditions.
the second floor. The third floor of this structure has a multi-level confined space area with a simulated roof collapse and false floor.
The 2,700-square-foot, three-storey wood-framed structure simulates a normal residential structure and areas of restricted passage. The first and second floors are set up as a single-family home with a living room and kitchen on the main floor and four bedrooms on
Leduc County donates pumper trucks to South America Leduc County July 24, 2013 Leduc County Fire Services handed over the keys for a pair of decommissioned fire trucks to Canadian Aid for Fire Services Abroad (CAFSA), an Alberta-based nonprofit humanitarian aid foundation. CAFSA collects used but still usable personal protective equipment and supplies from Canadian fire departments and redistributes that equipment to departments in developing countries. “The trucks have no value to local departments, but make a world of difference to fire departments in developing countries,” said Gerald Haakenson, fleet and equipment maintenance coordinator with Leduc County Fire Services. “They have nothing down there in a lot of these places, so they’re very grateful for our equipment.” Leduc County Fire Services donated a 1983 GMC frontmounted pumper truck from the New Sarepta Fire District Station and a 1986 municipal pumper truck from the Nisku Fire District Station. Victor Fernandez, president and CEO of CAFSA, says the trucks are expected to arrive in Bolivia by spring 2014.
Leduc County
Councillor Clay Stumph, Councillor Audrey Kelto, Councillor Ruth Harrison, CAFSA President and CEO Victor Fernandez, Mayor John Whaley, Councillor John Schonewille and Deputy Chief Brad Gurmin pose in front of the two fire trucks donated to South America.
“I am pleased to once again accept a donation from Leduc County Fire Services,” said Fernandez. “The generosity of departments across Canada enables Canadian Aid for Fire Services Abroad to help firefighters in less economical countries to protect infrastructure and lives in their communities.” On April 29, 2011, Leduc County donated a decommissioned 1981 GMC C6500 fire pumper to the organization. It was delivered to Penco, Chile that fall.
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Funds help Vehicle Extrication Team attend World Rescue Challenge 2014
Leduc County to administer Thorsby Fire District Leduc County March 12, 2014 Effective immediately, Leduc County assumes responsibility for administering fire services within the Thorsby Fire District, including in the Village of Thorsby and surrounding rural area.
The Leduc Representative
Vehicle Extrication Team members raised $6,200 for the World Rescue Challenge 2014.
be tasked with rescuing patients from various scenarios.
Leduc County Aug. 25, 2014 The Nisku Fire Extrication Team in donations from during a one-day Airport Road.
District’s Vehicle accepted $6,200 passing motorists boot drive along
Donations will help send the team, comprised of six on-call firefighters, to World Rescue Challenge 2014 in Moreton-in-Marsh, U.K. from Oct. 9 to 12, 2014. “We’d like to thank all motorists who dug into their pockets to donate funds,” said Rob Csolle, on-call firefighter. “This generosity pushes us one step closer to taking top spot at this prestigious competition.” Leduc County’s team will represent Canada at the international competition, where it will compete against roughly 30 other teams from around the world. Teams are required to compete in three different challenges where they will
Team members participate in upto-two nights per week of training on extrication-specific exercises, in addition to the required weekly training for all on-call firefighters with Leduc County Fire Services. “We look forward to showcasing our skills to the world and to the residents of Leduc County,” said Dave Sharratt, on-call firefighter. “Every hour of training we participate in strengthens our skills and, ultimately, makes us better rescuers when we respond to emergency calls in Leduc County.”
Competition results The Nisku Fire District’s Vehicle Extrication Team placed 12 overall in the World Rescue Challenge 2014. In 2012, the team placed second overall and third in the rapid event, which was held in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The team placed second in the limited event in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in 2011.
The March 11 decision came after consultation between the county and village. Leduc County council unanimously agreed to develop a new partnership with the Village of Thorsby to manage and administer fire services for the Thorsby Fire District. Thorsby council supported this decision and unanimously agreed to have Leduc County assume day-to-day operations and management responsibilities of fire services for their community. The two municipal administrations will develop a new draft fire services agreement for both councils to review. Previously, fire services in the Thorsby Fire District were cost-shared between the village and county, but were separately managed.
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County hosts nationwide big rig rescue training Life-saving training provided at Nisku Fire District Station Leduc County July 2016 Leduc County Fire Services, in partnership with the Alberta Vehicle Extrication Association, hosts roughly 80 firefighters from across Western Canada each year for the Big Rig HOT (hands-on training) learning symposium. “This one-of-a-kind training is in high demand because, unlike other training, it exposes first responders to new techniques, tools and technologies specific to big rig rescue situations,” said Darrell Fleming, fire chief and event coordinator/instructor. “The hope is that participants take this invaluable training back to their communities, where they can use it to save even more lives.”
“We have used the skills obtained from this training to respond to emergencies throughout the county. This training really does save lives.” —Darrell Fleming, fire chief “In Leduc County, we have used the skills obtained from this training to respond to emergencies throughout the county. This training really does save lives,” said Fleming. The 2016 Big Rig HOT symposium marked the tenth year that Leduc County Fire Services has co-hosted.
The symposium is held at the Regional Fire Training Facility at the Nisku Fire District Station, which includes a two-storey live-fire structure, a liquid petroleum gas structure and a designated area for vehicle and machinery extrication. Over the course of the training, firefighters actively participated in four workshops with different big rig rescue scenarios, such as responding to under runs – which involve one vehicle passing beneath another – rollovers and complicated stabilization and extrication techniques.
Leduc County
Firefighters from across Western Canada attend the Big Rig HOT learning symposium at the Nisku Fire District Station, co-hosted annually by Leduc County Fire Services and the Alberta Vehicle Extrication Association.
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Firefighters battled blaze in Fort McMurray Leduc County May 2016 Upon learning of the fire in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo in May, Leduc County Fire Services offered to send its Firefighter Rehabilitation Unit as well as a team of four volunteer, on-call firefighters to assist. The province requested that these resources be deployed, and firefighters were on the ground just days after the community was forced to evacuate. The Fire Rehabilitation Unit is an air-conditioned unit that supports firefighters by providing shelter, washroom facilities, water and essential nutrients – all much needed supports for men and women who battled the blaze for hours without a break. Leduc County firefighters worked in teams of four and were relieved from duty every 24-to-36 hours. A total of 16 volunteer, on-call firefighters from Leduc County assisted in northern Alberta over the week it was deployed.
Leduc County’s Fire Rehabilitation Unit was deployed to the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo to support firefighters battling the 580,000-hectare wildfire in May 2016.
Leduc County was not able to deploy additional firefighters or suppression resources due to the dry conditions in Leduc County and the requirement to maintain an adequate volume of suppression equipment in the region.
Leduc County thanks each and every firefighter in the region – those who were able to accompany the unit to Fort McMurray, as well as those men and women who remained in the region to fight fires right here at home – for their dedication to protecting life and property.
Leduc County
Thank you to all on-call firefighters who have contributed to Leduc County Fire Services’ history. 1976 • 2016