The Standard of Care for Fire Services is the protection of life and property, therefore our Duty of Care is to ensure our firefighters are trained and have the proper equipment to fulfill these requirements. The County of Wetaskiwin has two By-Laws which pertain to fire services. By-Law 98/25 provides for the establishment and operation of fire protective services and By-Law 98/26 provides for the rules, regulations and policies necessary for the proper organization and administration of County Fire Services.

The County of Wetaskiwin includes five fire protection areas, which are serviced by six different fire departments Millet Fire Department, Wetaskiwin Rural Fire Department, South Pigeon Lake Fire Department, Mulhurst Bay Fire Department, Winfield Fire Department, Buck Lake/Alder Flats Fire Department.

All of the fire departments plan and upgrade equipment on a yearly basis; these capital upgrades and new purchases are planned on a five year basis. Capital purchases are also supported by the County through the allowance of departmental over expenditures paid back to the County over a pre-determined period, usually a five year term. Funding is established with a fire zone mill rate in each Fire Protection Zone.

County fire protection is provided by a cross section of both County departments and agreements for service with departments in other municipalities. The departments are administered by a Board of Directors and are funded through user fees and a fire mill rate for capital purposes. In addition to capital costs which include new fire halls, equipment and fire trucks the County provides an additional annual operational fire grant to each fire department.

All fire departments charge a user fee when responding to a fire call; these fees are uniform throughout the County and are $300.00 per unit, per hour. These charges are authorized by By-Law 98/25.

Any disbursements or expenses incurred by the fire contractor or the municipality in the provision of fire protection, including but not limited to the hiring of independent contractors to provide services and/or equipment will be charged (By-Law 98/25, Schedule A).

PLEASE VERIFY YOUR LEVEL OF FIRE INSURANCE COVERAGE WITH YOUR INSURANCE BROKER TO ENSURE ADEQUATE COVERAGE IS IN PLACE TO COVER ADDITIONAL FEES FOR FIRE SERVICE.