"It's a step in the right direction."
That was Town of Barrhead Mayor Dave McKenzie's response to news that Alberta Health Services (AHS) will be compensating Barrhead Regional Fire Services (BRFS) for most — but not all — of its costs of firefighters supporting ambulance calls.
As previously reported, the same letter came to Barrhead County council Feb. 10, AHS will provide more than $10,600 to BRFS for its participation in the Medical First Response (MFR) program for the 2023-2024 fiscal year ending March 31.
The money is coming from a $2.5-million fund established by AHS to offset some directed costs incurred by MFR partners, according to a letter from AHS in council's agenda package.
The provincial funding is being handed out to fire departments and other volunteer MFR organizations through a formula that considers the overall participation, number of responses to life-threatening medical events and the size of the community.
Town Chief Administrative Officer Edward LeBlanc told council in a report that in the 2023 calendar year BFRS spent just under 572 hours, or 24 per cent of its total operational hours, assisting ambulance services. At an average rate of $22 per hour for local firefighters, that cost just under $12,600 in wages related to ambulance care.
LeBlanc told council that amount does not include materials and training.
"It's becoming more apparent that municipalities are going to take on more of a role as first providers," said Coun. Rod Klumph. "Do I want to do that? I don't."
