County discussing updated fire, emergency services bylaw

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Wheatland County council is addressing gaps within its current fire and emergency services bylaw, working to better service the local community.

First reading of a new fire and emergency services bylaw was passed during the Sept. 2 meeting.

Much of the debate and question regarding the current draft of the bylaw is in regard to potential penalties incurred by residents or offenders in violation of the bylaw.

“It is very rare that we cost recover on penalties. It is rare because depending on whether someone intentionally set a fire, it is pretty clear – but when it comes to accidental, we have not applied penalties,” said Sherry Baers, general manager of community and development services. “There have been offences where it is clear where the first time they are (fire services) called out, it is something that could have been preventable, there is no charge; however, if it is a repeat offence … I can only think of once where we have applied because it was a blatant offence.”

Reeve Amber Link emphasized her belief in the importance that should a resident call emergency services out to a fire, they will not be paranoid of unjust costs or penalties.

“I do get questions about how much it would cost if somebody had to call the fire department and I have had ratepayers who have been reticent to call for a small fire because they think they are going to be charged,” she said.

The provisions provided under the current bylaw primarily focus on regional emergency management structures, intermunicipal coordination, and general enforcement. 

County administration indicated while the foundations for service operation are described, the current bylaw lacks operational details, regulatory authority, and enforcement clarity. 

These are necessary to meet growing service demands and align with modern best practices. 

The drafted bylaw looks to establish a framework for fire prevention, suppression, permits, cost recovery, mutual aid, and enforcement. It would also align with current legislative requirements under the Municipal Government Act, Safety Codes Act, and Forest and Prairie Protection Act.

Key changes proposed for the bylaw are broken down into five categories. The first being a broader scope to cover a wider range of emergency response fluctuations, including rescue, medical first response, hazardous materials response, and public education. 

It also aims to clarify these services which, while previously practised, are now formally defined within the bylaw as opposed to continuing to remain ambiguous. 

The second category of changes is a reorganization of the document for quicker reference. Additionally, service levels by fire district are redefined in order to reflect clear expectations for response types and the capabilities of each department.

Annotation for the provision of outdoor fire permits, fire bans, and cost recovery is also outlined into distinct sections in order to make information more accessible. 

Regarding administration and fire authorities, the processes for appointing regional deputy fire chiefs, and county district fire chiefs are more clearly outlined. 

Existing enforcement provisions have been expanded in the drafted bylaw to list offences and their associated fines. This aims to provide a clearer direction both for enforcement and public awareness. 

The drafted bylaw also reflects the incorporation of modern best practices for municipal fire bylaws in order to better ensure consistent service delivery and enforcement.