For the last number of months, on and off, councillors from both Barrhead municipalities have been debating how to minimize the number of unnecessary callouts of our local fire department by Alberta Health Services (AHS).
In part, because they are afraid of firefighter fatigue and burnout — a definite issue considering how many calls the department gets called out to. In 2016, the Barrhead Fire Department was dispatched to a record number of times and although this year the workload is less, it is still above historical norms.
But what the municipalities are mainly concerned about is the cost of providing the service.
As we have reported many times, AHS ambulance crews request the fire department to what the municipalities and the firefighters themselves consider to be unnecessary calls.
These calls are putting an extra financial strain on municipalities which are already feeling squeezed.
That is why some municipalities and even departments have decided not to provide medical first response service. It is also the question we posed to our readers last week, although we don’t want to see the fire department stop providing the service. Nor does the town and county, but they both agree, and so do we, that AHS should be subsidizing municipalities when they call upon fire departments. There is precedence for this as the province does provide funding when fire departments respond to accidents on highways.
That being said this week we want to take a break in the discussion and just take time to congratulate the members of the Barrhead Fire Department who successfully completed their National Fire Protection Association 1001 certification — the professional firefighting standard.
We are truly fortunate to have a group of dedicated volunteers who give of themselves, taking time away from their friends and families, in an effort to become the best firefighters they can be. And then to put that training to use and risk their personal safety to serve their fellow citizens … that is truly honourable. More than 90 per cent of Barrhead firefighters are currently certified to this professional standard and more are on their way.
Thank you all.
