Wheatland County Fire Services established

Posted on: Staff Writer

 Sharon McLeay  

Times Contributor  
 
On Aug. 19, Wheatland County council voted to establish Wheatland County Fire Services, which consists of Strathmore Rural Fire and Carseland Fire departments. The two departments will be operated by Wheatland County under the recently established Fire Services Bylaw 2014-31, Wheatland County Fire Services Policy 11, and established operating guidelines.
“Wheatland County wishes to recognize the tremendous support and contributions of the volunteer firefighters of Strathmore Rural, Carseland and Standard, as well as county residents in the area who worked patiently with the county throughout this process,” stated Wheatland County’s General Manager of Agriculture, Community and Protective Services Jim Laslo. 
He said Wheatland County was also grateful for Standard Rural Fire Association’s support and partnership that allowed them to maintain firefighter services within the Strathmore Rural and Carseland area, after the termination of service by the Strathmore Rural Fire Fighting Association. 
Standard Rural Fire Association will be stepping out of the operating lease agreement signed on March 31,with Wheatland County Fire Services stepping in until its review date of Oct. 31.
The Aug.19 council meeting also gave Wheatland County council an idea about the cost of the fire services, as they were presented with a budget and operating expenses until Dec. 31, for Carseland and Strathmore Rural Fire.
“I am not going to lie to you,” said Chief Administrative Officer Alan Parkin. “It is not going to be cheaper than it was before.”
Councillor Ben Armstrong stated that there would be costs to get the service up and running, but he said this budget was comparable to the other fire services in Wheatland County. Council passed the motion to accept the budget and operating guidelines for the new service. 
The next big challenge for this service will involve negotiations on the transfer of assets from the Strathmore Rural Fire Fighters Association to Wheatland County Fire Services.