Fire & Emergency Services
Fire and Emergency Services is dedicated to the safety of Medicine Hat residents. Rapid response to fires, rescues, hazardous material incidents and other emergencies reduces harm to people, property and the environment, and education on fire prevention and safety helps build a safe community.
Current Fire Danger Conditions
Our river valley, coulees and natural areas are susceptible to wildfire at any time of the year. Windy dry conditions and steep terrain can allow these fires to travel quickly and spread to nearby structures. Here are some steps you can take to limit the potential for these fires to happen.
- Assess your property and limit potential fuel sources around fences, sheds, and buildings. This includes measures such as removing dry plant material and keeping grasses mowed. For more property preservation tips visit FireSmart Canada.
- Backyard firepits require a permit and should only be used when weather conditions are appropriate. For information related to applying for a permit, visit our backyard firepits page.
- Dispose of smoker’s materials properly and provide an ashtray for any guests who may require one.
For current and forecast fire danger in the Medicine Hat and surrounding areas, click here.
Current Fire Ban Status
Fire & Emergency Services, through the Fire Chief and Director of Fire & Emergency Services, may declare a partial or complete fire ban of any outdoor burning of any kind within the City. Many factors are taken into consideration when declaring a partial or complete fire ban, including any or all of the following:
- the air quality index;
- levels of recent precipitation;
- water shortages or restrictions;
- availability of firefighters and equipment; and
- the overall fire danger.
Current fire ban restrictions are as follows:
- No restrictions are in place. However, all residents are encouraged to practice fire prevention techniques such as using fire pits responsibly, placing smoking material (e.g. cigarette butts) in containers that will not ignite, and keeping all outdoor cooking appliances (e.g. barbecues) away from structures that can ignite.
For information regarding fire bans or restrictions in other areas of the province, visit albertafirebans.ca.
About us |
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Our firefighters provide emergency response from three stations, located strategically throughout the city. The operations staff totals 72 members under the leadership and management of a Chief, a Deputy Chief, an Assistant Deputy Chief and a Chief Training Officer. Four platoons staff the three stations and maintain a minimum of 14 on duty in the city at all times. The competency standards for fire and rescue are in accordance with the NFPA/IFSAC certifications. Fire & Emergency Services has a fleet of 38 vehicles. The fleet includes frontline apparatus equipped with state of the art technology and carries all the contemporary equipment for efficient management of fire and rescue incidents. The fleet also includes aquatic rescue crafts and an array of specialized equipment for hazardous materials incident management, technical rescue, wild land fires and command vehicles. Within the department are various advanced teams that both augment initial response units and provide an advanced level of capability to manage more technical demands associated with the various rescue and containment incidents. The teams attract members from the general fire fighter population with a requirement that they serve a minimum of six years as a advanced team member. |
Our history |
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To protect itself and its residents, Medicine Hat saw fit to establish a fire brigade which has since provided fire protection for more than 100 years. On May 28, 1897, a large fire destroyed the town's government building, the police stables, and a nearby livery. This brought forth the realization that the town was in desperate need of fire protection. The locals established a volunteer "bucket brigade" which was followed by discussions of establishing an effective waterworks system and incorporation of the town. Newspaper accounts reveal little of firefighting efforts from this time until May 1899, when the town again faced the potential for wide-scale disaster when a fire broke out along North Railway Street. Following the 1899 blaze, the local volunteer brigade was more vigilant in protecting the community. A public waterworks system was built in 1901 and soon the first organizational meeting for a 33 member Volunteer Fire Department was underway. Among the first appointments were Dougall McNabb (Chief), W.H. Cavanah (Assistant Chief), H. Tweed (Secretary Treasurer), J. Hardy (Captain of the Hose Company), Wm. Leonard (Captain of the Hook and Ladder Company), and Dave Williamson (Chemical Engineer), plus a brigade of 27 other volunteers. Their equipment consisted of a gong, a siren, a hand-drawn hose reel and a chemical engine. By 1906, the department had a horse-drawn chemical truck, a horse-drawn pump truck and a horse and buggy. The first Fire Hall was believed to have been built along South Railway Street, then, onto the rear of the first Town Hall, located near the present day Finlay Bridge. On Jan. 1, 1908, William E. Hatcher was hired on as the first salaried Fire Chief for the Department and William H. Buchanan as the town's first Fireman. Both men were assisted by numerous volunteers in the new Hall at the rear of the New City Hall on Second Street. On Oct. 6, 1911, the town purchased its first mechanical pump truck, and by 1913, the department had a fleet of three motorized vehicles. Later, a fire substation was added at the top of Third Street Hill at Division Avenue, and another in the Flats area. After a lengthy stay at the main downtown location, local congestion made it necessary to look ahead to a new Fire Station. On May 24, 1975, a new station was officially opened on Maple Avenue and soon after a substation was located on Dunmore Road. Fire & Emergency Services continues to serve and protect the City with as much enthusiasm as that first group of dedicated volunteers. Now armed with the latest equipment and the highest level of training, Medicine Hat residents can rest assured that help is only a phone call away. Courtesy of the Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre |
Advance Response teams |
Aquatics rescueThe aquatics rescue team is equipped with a variety of equipment for both surface and subsurface operations. All divers meet CSA certification through an international agency. The training this team receives allows them to respond to various bodies of water and winter ice conditions. In addition to the fully equipped aquatics response unit, the team has two inflatable craft for rapid interventions and a rescue boat which serves as a dive platform for sustained dive operations. Hazardous materialsThe hazardous materials team responds to incidents involving the transportation and storage of dangerous goods throughout the region. The mainline vehicle is equipped with an on-board weather station, satellite phone and laptop programmed with technical information software. Level A & B suits are integral to the response unit, as are SCBAs and basic decontamination equipment. Technical rescueThe technical rescue team responds to incidents involving elevation rescues, both low and high-angle, as well as confined space rescue. The team is equipped with a dedicated vehicle which carries an array of rescue equipment, and equipped for off-road rescues and operations. Although relatively self-contained, the team and the unit are supported by an engine company. TrainingThe training branch provides knowledge and skills to our firefighters. The chief training officer conducts training, which consists of in-house instruction, correspondence programs and attendance at recognized training institutions. Emphasis is placed on safety and all training meets or exceeds the industry standards. These recognized standards are found within the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Alberta Health and Safety Standards and other governing legislation. This training includes:
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Recruitment
Medicine Hat Fire & Emergency Services recruits applicants who have successfully completed training accredited with the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) or ProBoard.
Medicine Hat Fire and Emergency Services is currently hiring and accepting applications.
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Other NFPA electives, such as NFPA 1002 Apparatus Driver/Operator, NFPA 1006 Technical Rescue Personnel, NFPA 1031 Level 1 Inspector, NFPA 1041 Fire Service Instructor, EMR or EMT training, SCUBA and PADI open water, as well as diving experience, are considered relevant applicant assets. The recruitment process evaluates and grades applicants on a pro-rated scoring system, which involves awarding weighted performance grades for each segment of the recruitment process. |
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Numerous steps are followed in selecting applicants for the firefighter position. These take place over a number of weeks.
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Want to know more about the process? Read our frequently asked questions.
Apply for a backyard fire pit permit and learn about fire codes, standards and inspections.
Find educational resources and book a fire station tour or presentation for your school or group.
Fire & Emergency Service reports
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Fire Services Strategic Plan |
| Fire Services staff developed the Fire Service Strategic Plan to provide a roadmap for fire prevention, education, suppression, and rescue services for the city for the immediate future and over the next ten years. This project is a result of a 2009 City Council priority to develop a ten-year plan for Fire Services. |
| Fire Response Coverage Optimization Report |
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The Fire Response Coverage Optimization Report analyzes the effects of traffic pre-emption technology, Mobile Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) and changes to dispatch processes on fire response coverage. This report amends the Fire Services Strategic Plan. |