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.
Organization
Rural Living & 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.
If you would like more information regarding Emergency Services for the County, please contact:
Larry Randle
Director of Community Services
Alberta Emergency Alert
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
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.
Emergency Preparedness
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 Services Zones
Emergency Service Zones
All day-to-day emergency response services are provided by your local emergency services departments through service agreements with the County.
There are five separate agreements for emergency response and one agreement for 911 dispatch services.
Fire Departments:
- Barons and District Fire Department
- City of Lethbridge Fire and EMS
- Coaldale and District Emergency Services
- Coalhurst Fire Department
- Nobleford and District Emergency Services
- Picture Butte and District Emergency Services
Fees
Click the link to view current fees fo emergency response:
Fire Bans
There is currently no Fire Ban in place in Lethbridge County.
Fire permits are required for burning under the County’s Fire Permit Bylaw #1424. Permits are free of charge and can be applied for at https://lethcounty.ca/p/fire-permits or on the County app.
Should conditions change, Lethbridge County may impose a Fire Advisory or Fire Ban at any time. Before burning, always check to ensure there is not a Ban in place.
Fire and Fireworks Permits
For more information on Fire Permits click the link: Fire Permits
For more information on Fireworks Permits click the link: Fireworks Permits
Firearm Safety
Click the link for more information: Firearm Safety
Policing- RCMP
FOR EMERGENCIES- DIAL 911
Click the link for more information on the RCMP in Lethbridge County:
- Coaldale (1708 20 Ave, Coaldale, 403-345-5552)
- Picture Butte (520 Watson Ave, Picture Butte, 403-732-4449)
- Lethbridge (427 Stafford Dr S, Lethbridge, 403-329-5010)
Regulatory Services/Bylaw Enforcement
For more information on Lethbridge County Regulatory Services and the Community Peace Officer program, click the link: Regulatory Services
Rural Crime Watch/RCMP Crime Map
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
