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Emergency Services

The Emergency Services department provides effective and efficient responses to day-to-day emergencies through contracted fire departments.  It prepares for, mitigates, responds to and recovers from disasters through the management of Disaster Services. The department helps to educate citizens about and provides enforcement of municipal, provincial and federal laws through the management of Regulatory Services and fosters cooperation and coordination between all Fire and Rescue, Disaster and Regulatory Services in the region.

Through responsible management of Fire/Rescue, Disaster and Regulatory Services, we continually strive to enhance the quality of life for our citizens and our community.


Core Activities

  • Provide for effective and efficient responses to day-to-day emergencies through the management of Fire and Rescue Services.
  • Prepare for, mitigate, respond to and recover from disasters through the management of Disaster Services.
  • Educate citizens about and provide enforcement of municipal and provincial laws through the management of Regulatory Services.
  • Foster cooperation and coordination between all Fire and Rescue, Disaster and Regulatory Services.

Organization



Rural Living in Lethbridge County & Emergency Services

Response times for emergency services cannot be guaranteed in Lethbridge County. Under some conditions you may find that emergency service response times are slow due to circumstances beyond the control of the provider. Travel distances, road and weather conditions, emergency call volumes and the availability of emergency service personnel can all affect emergency response times.

The physical characteristics of your property can be a positive or a negative in terms of fire prevention. Vegetation such as trees, shrubs, grass or other combustibles all provide fuel for fires. Defendable perimeters and removal of combustible materials around and adjacent to buildings and other valuables will help to prevent the spread of fire and fire losses. You are the best resource for the prevention of fires but if a fire should occur on your property, do not hesitate to call 911.

Rural emergency services are most often provided by dedicated individuals that add emergency services to their already full-time lives. Emergency services provided by "volunteers" are often funded, equipped and staffed at lower levels than those of full-time services and public expectations of rural emergency services should come with an understanding of these limitations.

Rural water supplies for fire fighting operations are often inadequate or non existent. The pressurized fire hydrants found in urban areas do not generally exist in rural areas and emergency services are often limited to the water supplies carried on their own apparatuses. Residents in rural areas should consider on-site water supplies accessible and maintained for firefighting operations.


Related Links

If you would like more information regarding Emergency Services for the County, please contact:

Larry Randle

Director of Community Services

Email

Alberta Emergency Alert issues critical information about an immediate disaster, where it is occurring, and what action you need to take.

Visit the Alberta Emergency Alert website to download the mobile application.

Ambulance services are provided by Alberta Health Services.  

There are a number of ambulance stations throughout Southern Alberta- all of which respond into Lethbridge County. The Chinook Regional Hospital is Southern Alberta’s main medical facility located in the City of Lethbridge.  The Hospital’s main phone number is (403) 388-6111.  

If an emergency happens in your community, it may take emergency workers some time to reach you, or you may be required to evacuate. You should be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for a minimum of 72 hours. 

Click the link to learn more about what you can do to be prepared: Emergency Preparedness

Emergency Service Zones

All day-to-day emergency response services are provided by your local emergency services department through service agreements with the County.

There are five separate agreements for emergency response and one agreement for 911 dispatch services.


Emergency Services Billing

               

The Emergency Services Billing Rates are in accordance with the current Schedule of Fees Bylaw

Bylaw 19-003 Schedule of Fees - Section ‘C’ Protective Services:

False Alarms

The first false call is not charged. Subsequent false calls for emergency services are billed out according to the Schedule of Fees Bylaw (see above).

Fire Ban in Effect for Lethbridge County

Due to the dry conditions that exist Lethbridge County has issued a Fire Ban on all open fires within its municipal boundaries.  The Fire Ban excludes fires which are contained in cooking or heating appliances fueled by fluids or gasses (gas or propane fueled fire rings, BBQs, stoves, and heaters).

All active Fire Permits are cancelled, and no new permits will be issued until further notice.  It is an offence to ignite or allow a fire to burn under a Fire Ban, and fines apply under Lethbridge County Fire Ban Bylaw #1423.

The Fire Ban is effective as of 12:00 p.m. Monday, August 17, 2020 and will remain until further notice.

Fire and Fireworks Permits are currently suspended due to the Fire Ban in effect for Lethbridge County.  All permits are cancelled and no new permits will be approved at this time.

For more information on Fire Permits click the link: Fire Permits

For more information on Fireworks Permits click the link: Fireworks Permits

Click the link for more information: Firearm Safety

For more information on Lethbridge County Regulatory Services and the Community Peace Officer program, click the link: Regulatory Services

Preventing Rural Crime

Everyone has a role to play in preventing rural crime. Reporting ALL rural crime is important in prevention. If not reported, the RCMP cannot track criminal activity trends to prevent subsequent incidents from occurring. Every report assists the RCMP in their investigations and it is important that citizens call the RCMP for all rural crime and suspicious activity.

Citizens can also get involved in the Picture Butte and District Rural Crime Watch.  To report suspicious activity to the organization call: (587) 787-1793

For emergencies, call 911.

For information and tips on how you can prevent rural crime, visit the Rural Crime Watch website.

RCMP Crime Map

The RCMP crime map for Lethbridge County and the surrounding area is available to view by clicking the link: RCMP Crime Map