Fire rescue

Overview

There are 435 fire rescue departments and 14,000 firefighters across Alberta – 80% are volunteers.

Fire departments can be based in a community, or be part of a regional collaboration where a number of communities have combined resources to deliver fire rescue services.

Examples of regional collaborations include:

• Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority
• Pincher Creek Emergency Services
• Beaver Emergency Services Commission

We also operate the fire rescue services in the Special Areas of southeastern Alberta and the Kananaskis Improvement District.

Operational forms

Legal forms

• Obtain a Warrant to Enter a Private Dwelling (DOCX, 27 KB)
• Release from Responsibility: Any Occupancy (DOC, 103 KB)
• Voluntary Consent to Search or Seizure (DOC, 60 KB)

Agreements

The following agreements are examples only. It is recommended that organizations seek legal advice before entering into public safety agreements.

• Sample Joint Fire Service Agreement (DOC, 60 KB)
• Sample Mutual Emergency Aid Agreement (PDF, 186 KB)

Investigation field notes

• Incident Investigation Field Notes (DOC, 70 KB)
• Event Log (DOC, 59 KB)
• Fire Incident Field Notes (DOC, 80 KB)
• Structure Fire (DOC, 90 KB)
• Electrical Panel Documentation (DOC, 77 KB)
• Sketches (DOCX, 14 KB)
• Evidence Form (DOCX, 26 KB)
• Photograph Log (DOCX, 21 KB)
• Photograph Log Page 2 (DOCX, 20 KB)
• Witness Statement (DOCX, 18 KB)
• Vehicle Inspection Field Notes (DOC, 298 KB)
• Truck Diagram (PDF, 126 KB)
• Wildfire Notes (DOCX, 19 KB)
• Casualty Field Notes (DOCX, 172 KB)
• Insurance Information (DOCX, 20 KB)
• Investigation Hazard Assessment (DOCX, 17 KB)

Resources

• Establishing and Operating a Fire Department
• New OHS Guide for Firefighting
• 2007 OH & S Code of Practice for Firefighters
• Barn Fires Involving Livestock (PDF, 320 KB)

Clandestine drug labs

• Clandestine Drug Awareness Safety manual

Dress and deportment

For information about formal event wear, fire department uniforms, medal placement, salutes and protocol read:

• Ceremonies, Dress and Deportment Protocol Recommendations

Alberta Structural Protection Program

Wildland urban interface fires can severely affect Albertan communities. These fires require firefighting resources from both public and private sectors.

As a result, the Office of the Fire Commissioner (OFC) developed the Alberta Structural Protection Program. This program outlines how services are deployed, engaged and reimbursed.

For details about the program and its deployment read the Alberta 2018 Structural Protection Program Guidelines.

Program database

The program also includes a database for the OFC and the Provincial Operations Centre to identify municipalities and contractors capable of providing and deploying equipment and personnel to wildland urban interface incidents.

To include your organization in the program’s database complete the OFC Structural Protection Program Database Submittal Spreadsheet (XLSX, 149 KB) and email the completed spreadsheet to ma.psdwui@gov.ab.ca.

Completion of the database is not a commitment by your organization or by the commissioner to utilize your resources. The database is only an inventory of potentially available resources.

For questions or assistance completing the spreadsheet call 1-866-421-6929 or email ma.psdwui@gov.ab.ca.

Contact

Connect with the Office of the Fire Commissioner:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 1-866-421-6929
Fax: 780-427-8686
Email: firecomm@gov.ab.ca

Office of the Fire Commissioner
Community and Technical Support
Public Safety Division
Alberta Municipal Affairs
16th Floor, Commerce Place
10155 102 Street
Edmonton, Alberta  T5J 4L4