The wildfire danger in the Grande Prairie Forest Area is HIGH. A fire restriction remains in place for the northern parts of Alberta. If you live, work or recreate in the forest, use caution and report wildfires by calling 310-FIRE (3473).
- Click here for the Annual Fire Service Report 2023 -
The Wembley Fire Department is a dedicated Professional Volunteer Fire Department that operates as a division of the Town of Wembley.
The Wembley Fire Department, under service contract, provides Fire, Rescue, and Medical First Response to the County Of Grande Prairie Regional Fire Service and is the Primary Emergency Response Agency for the Town Of Wembley. The Fire Service contract renewed in 2022 with the County of Grande Prairie now includes administrative services provided by the County Regional Fire Services Management Team inclusive of two administrative staff, one Fire Chief, two Deputy Chiefs (Operations, Training, and Logistics), Two District Chiefs (Stationed out of Wembley and Sexsmith) and the Fire Marshall who looks after investigations, inspections, code compliance, fire prevention, and education.
Our Department holds a high standard with support from our Mayor and Council with the goal of providing our citizens and neighbors the highest quality of Emergency Response Services possible. The Wembley Fire Department houses a roster of approximately 20 Volunteer Firefighters, 2 Lieutenants, and 4 Senior Firefighters. The Town staffs one Full-Time Station Captain and one Firefighter to manage daily operations Monday to Friday. During the Spring/Summer Fire Season, we staff additional Firefighters under contract to assist in annual testing, maintenance, training, and day-time incident responses. In 2024 the department transitioned to a paid on-call model for responses. This means that a member will be financially compensated for hours of work on 9-11 calls. The goal was to ensure that members were not only compensated for their efforts but also to ensure that it did not have negative financial impacts on our members.
The Wembley Fire Department in partnership with the County of Grande Prairie Regional Fire Service trains all new members to the NFPA 1001 Level 2 through the Alberta Office of the Fire Commissioners Public Safety Division. We are fortunate to have multiple certified NFPA 1041 Instructors in-house along with a certified First Aid and Basic Life Support instructor. In addition, to recruit training, our members meet every Thursday night for 3 hours to train on specific topics and to ensure we display competence in our skills annually.
Have you ever wondered why when you call 911 for an ambulance the Fire Department shows up? The Wembley Fire Department noticed that due to the community's unique location between the City of Grande Prairie and the Town Of Beaverlodge, response for an ambulance can be delayed. The Fire Department is set up with Alberta Health Services as a Full Medical Co-Response Agency meaning we will respond to any medical emergency in our district no matter the severity.
If it's not fires or medical emergencies, you have likely seen us out on Highway 43, the twined provincial highway that runs in the middle of our jurisdiction. We are fortunate to have several members with advanced training in vehicle extrication and stabilization. This is accompanied by 1 heavy rescue truck, and 1 engine both with full sets of hydraulic rescue tools "The Jaws of Life" We are prepared to best serve not only those who live here but those who visit, work, or are traveling through the area.
Many of you have most likely heard the large roof-mounted siren at the Fire Hall sound from time to time.......sorry about waking you up in the middle of the night. This siren is set off when the responding officer believes the Incident at hand can pose an imminent danger in the community. Such events are a confirmed structure fire, gas leak, or environmental emergency. We limit testing of this siren to about 4 times a year, when we plan to test it we will update our Facebook page with the date and time.
We are always happy to offer station tours, and educational materials to families, businesses, and schools at your request. Feel free to stop by the hall anytime! if we are not here contact numbers are posted on the main entrance of the hall.
Please check out https://www.facebook.com/wembleyfiredepartment to see what we are up to.
For information regarding the Fire Department please contact District Fire Chief Matt Smith at masmith@countygp.ab.ca
Address: 9928 100 Street, Box 325, Wembley, AB, T0H 3S0
Office Phone: 780-766-3170
Office Hours: Monday - Friday from 0800-1700
*For Emergencies please call 9-1-1*
Ready to help? Find the application for Paid On-Call Volunteer Firefighters at the bottom of this page. If you do not hear back within 14 days of submitting your application, please forward an application directly to fireoperations@wembley.ca
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LOCAL FIRE DANGER AND PERMIT INFORMATION
Residents in the Town of Wembley do not require a fire permit for recreational fire pits. Fire advisories, restrictions and bans put in place by the County of Grande Prairie apply within Town limits. Industrial burn permits are issued on a case-by-case basis. For any questions regarding industrial burning, please contact the Wembley Fire Department directly. Are you located outside the Town of Wembley? Residents outside the Town in the County of Grande Prairie require a valid fire permit for any burning including recreational fire pits, burn barrels, incinerators, and brush piles.
To contact a Fire Guardian about obtaining a fire permit in the County of Grande Prairie, click the link here - County of Grande Prairie Fire Guardians.
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- COUNTY OF GRANDE PRAIRIE AND AREA FIRE DANGER -
Todays fire rating is High
High
FIRE RESTRICTION IS IN EFFECT FOR THE COUNTY OF GRANDE PRAIRIE
WEBSITE UPDATED 4/24/2024
Effective at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9, the County of Grande Prairie Regional Fire Service will issue a Fire Restriction for the entire County, along with the towns of Wembley, Beaverlodge and Sexsmith.
Read more: Fire Restriction April 9, 2024
Prohibited:
- All outdoor fires not contained within a non-combustible fire pit.
- Wood campfires in backcountry or random camping areas.
- Fireworks and exploding targets.
Allowed:
- Safe wood campfires
- Backyard fire pits
- Portable propane fire pits
- Gas or propane stoves and barbecues
- Catalytic or infrared-style heaters
-
Propane, Natural Gas, or Electrically powered cooking, heating, and lighting appliances
*Safe wood campfires - should be within a metal, brick, or rock fire ring*
- Safe wood campfires
- Backyard fire pits
- Portable propane fire pits
- Gas or propane stoves and barbecues
- Catalytic or infrared-style heaters
-
Propane, Natural Gas, or Electrically powered cooking, heating, and lighting appliances
*Safe wood campfires - should be within a metal, brick, or rock fire ring*
They are required to:
• Be on rock, gravel, sand, or another non-combustible surface that extends at least one metre around the fire;
• Have a responsible person in attendance to keep fire under control at all times and extinguish before leaving;
• Have on hand enough water on site to extinguish the fire. Safe wood campfires on private lands include private land campgrounds and private land recreation areas; and
• Municipalities, Parks and protected areas may have additional fire safety requirements.
Never leave a campfire unattended. Soak it, stir it and soak it again until cool to the touch to ensure it is extinguished.
Information Number :
If you have any questions please contact the County of Grande Prairie Regional Fire Service Office at (780) 532 9727
Details and any updates will be available at www.countygp.ab.ca/fireban. View all current fire advisories, restrictions and bans in place across the province at www.albertafirebans.ca.
Details and any updates to the restriction will be available at www.countygp.ab.ca/fireban. View all current fire restrictions and bans in place across the province at www.albertafirebans.ca.
For safe burning practices, visit www.countygp.ab.ca/fire or contact Regional Fire Service at 780-532-9727.
- Fire Restriction: A fire restriction prohibits the use of wood campfires on public land but does allow wood campfires inside provincial campgrounds and private property. Fire permits may be restricted, suspended, or cancelled and no new fire permits will be issued.
- Fire Ban: A fire ban prohibits wood campfires on public land, campgrounds, and private land including backyard fire pits. Fire permits will be suspended or cancelled, and no new permits will be issued.
Information Number
If you are unsure how this restriction may affect you, contact the County of Grande Prairie No. 1 Fire Protection Office at 780-532-9727.
Fire Hazard Levels
Depending on the conditions, the County of Grande Prairie uses the following tiered system to temporarily limit activities that may lead to wildfires. Fire advisories, restrictions or bans can reduce human-cause wildfires.
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- GRANDE PRAIRIE FOREST AREA INFORMATION -
Grande Prairie Forest Area Update - April 23, 2024
Wildfire information
Since January 1, 2024, 20 wildfires have been reported in the Grande Prairie Forest Area burning nearly 80 hectares. Of the 20 wildfires, 17 have been extinguished, one is listed as turned over to the responsible parties and two are under control.
Alberta wildfire crews are assisting the MD of Greenview with a 12 hectare wildfire, (GMD001) near the community of Debolt, 50 kilometers west of Valleyview. Alberta wildfire crews along with a helicopter are working with the Debolt fire department to extinguish the fire.
Alberta wildfire crews are assisting the County of Grande Prairie with a 30 hectare wildfire. (GCU005) started Saturday April 20, 2024 in the area of township road 730 to 732. Currently, wildfire crews are working to extinguish hotspots within the perimeter. For more information about this fire check here https://loom.ly/giBNlLM
Since January 1, 2024, 20 wildfires have been reported in the Grande Prairie Forest Area burning nearly 80 hectares. Of the 20 wildfires, 17 have been extinguished, one is listed as turned over to the responsible parties and two are under control.
Alberta wildfire crews are assisting the MD of Greenview with a 12 hectare wildfire, (GMD001) near the community of Debolt, 50 kilometers west of Valleyview. Alberta wildfire crews along with a helicopter are working with the Debolt fire department to extinguish the fire.
Alberta wildfire crews are assisting the County of Grande Prairie with a 30 hectare wildfire. (GCU005) started Saturday April 20, 2024 in the area of township road 730 to 732. Currently, wildfire crews are working to extinguish hotspots within the perimeter. For more information about this fire check here https://loom.ly/giBNlLM
2023 carryover wildfires
There are currently two carryover fires from the 2023 wildfire season. All carryover wildfires that are listed are under control and being monitored by firefighters.
A fire restriction has been issued for northern parts of the Grande Prairie Forest Area as of April 18, 2024 1400hrs.
- Existing fire permits are restricted, suspended or cancelled and no new fire permits will be issued.
- Safe wood campfires within fire rings in campgrounds are allowed.
Prohibited on public lands, including backcountry and random camping areas:
-
- All outdoor wood fires.
- Fires fueled exclusively by charcoal briquettes.
- The use of fireworks and exploding targets.
Allowed in designated campgrounds on private and public land, designated day use areas and on privately owned land:
- Safe wood campfires.
- Backyard fire pits, charcoal briquette barbeques.
- Propane/ natural gas-powered appliances CSA-approved or UL certified.
Never leave a campfire unattended. Soak it, stir it and soak it again until cool to the touch to ensure it is extinguished.
If you see a wildfire, report it immediately by calling 310-FIRE.
A fire advisory remains in effect for the south parts of the Grande Prairie Forest Area due to dry fuel and gusty wind.
Under this advisory:
-
-
Permits will be issued on a case by case basis
-
No heavy fuel fire permits will be issued
Prohibited:
-
-
Any burning without a valid fire permit, other than a campfire
Never leave a campfire unattended. Soak it, stir it and soak it again until cool to the touch to ensure it is extinguished.
Stay informed of fire restrictions and fire bans in your area by checking Alberta Firebans.ca
If you see a wildfire, report it immediately by calling 310-FIRE (3473)
The fire advisory will remain in effect until conditions improve.
There are currently two carryover fires from the 2023 wildfire season. All carryover wildfires that are listed are under control and being monitored by firefighters.
A fire restriction has been issued for northern parts of the Grande Prairie Forest Area as of April 18, 2024 1400hrs.
- Existing fire permits are restricted, suspended or cancelled and no new fire permits will be issued.
- Safe wood campfires within fire rings in campgrounds are allowed.
Prohibited on public lands, including backcountry and random camping areas:
-
- All outdoor wood fires.- Fires fueled exclusively by charcoal briquettes.- The use of fireworks and exploding targets.
Allowed in designated campgrounds on private and public land, designated day use areas and on privately owned land:
- Safe wood campfires.
- Backyard fire pits, charcoal briquette barbeques.
- Propane/ natural gas-powered appliances CSA-approved or UL certified.
Never leave a campfire unattended. Soak it, stir it and soak it again until cool to the touch to ensure it is extinguished.
If you see a wildfire, report it immediately by calling 310-FIRE.
A fire advisory remains in effect for the south parts of the Grande Prairie Forest Area due to dry fuel and gusty wind.
Under this advisory:
-
-
Permits will be issued on a case by case basis
-
No heavy fuel fire permits will be issued
-
Prohibited:
-
-
Any burning without a valid fire permit, other than a campfire
-
Never leave a campfire unattended. Soak it, stir it and soak it again until cool to the touch to ensure it is extinguished.
Stay informed of fire restrictions and fire bans in your area by checking Alberta Firebans.ca
If you see a wildfire, report it immediately by calling 310-FIRE (3473)
The fire advisory will remain in effect until conditions improve.