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Wembley Fire Department



- 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, three Deputy Chiefs (Operations, Training, and Logistics), Two District Chiefs (Stationed out of Wembley and Sexsmith) and the Office of 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 neighbours 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 two Basic Life Support instructors. In addition to recruit training, our members meet every Thursday night for 3 hours to train on specific topics to ensure we display competence in our skills annually. The Wembley Fire Department Training Grounds houses multiple training structures and props. Most of the facilities have been purchased and constructed through donations, grant funding and volunteer work. Our facilities include a two-story Class A burn facility (shown below) which was upgraded from a single-story in late 2023 thanks to a $30,000 contribution from Ovintiv. We also house car fire props, dumpster fire props, cold smoke structures, forcible entry and more! 



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 travelling 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 once per 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! Contact numbers are posted on the main entrance of the hall should someone not be available to assist you. 



 
Please check out https://www.facebook.com/wembleyfiredepartment to see what we are up to.


Facebook: @wembleyfiredepartment

Instagram: @wembleyfiredepartment



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*


Interested in joining? Visit the recruitment tab! 

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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 Low Low


gfx-hsb-wildfiredangerupdate-low.jpg end of wildfire season 2023 landscape

Winter can be a safer time for burning due to the reduced risk of wildfires, but it still requires careful planning and consideration to prevent smoke from negatively impacting surrounding areas.

Understanding Inversions

On particularly cold days, weather events like inversions can cause smoke to stay close to the ground and travel for long distances. An inversion occurs when a layer of warmer air traps cold air beneath it, preventing smoke from dispersing upwards. This can lead to dangerous driving conditions and impact the health of nearby communities due to the accumulation of smoke in the air.

Guidelines for Safe Winter Burns

  1. Avoid Burning During Inversions
    Do not burn when an inversion is in effect or is forecasted. Inversions trap smoke near the surface, causing air quality issues and safety hazards.

  2. Consult Local Authorities
    Before undertaking large winter burns, especially near communities or roadways, check with local authorities. Ask for guidance on how to manage smoke and minimize the impacts of burning.

  3. Manage Burns Actively
    Carefully monitor and control your burn to minimize the duration and intensity of smoke. The longer the burn lasts, the more smoke it produces, so managing the burn efficiently is crucial.

  4. Burn in Stages
    To adapt to changing weather conditions and reduce the amount of smoke released at once, burn debris in smaller, controlled stages.

  5. Monitor Weather Conditions
    Pay attention to weather forecasts. Lower temperatures and light winds often lead to stronger inversions. The ideal burning conditions typically include temperatures above freezing and winds of at least 5 km/h.

By taking these steps, you can reduce the negative effects of winter burning on air quality and ensure that your burning practices are both effective and safe for the surrounding environment and communities.

For further details, refer to guidelines on brush piles and windrows: safe burning practices.

WFX-FIT open house GP
Try the wildland firefighter fitness test (WFX-Fit) on Friday and Saturday
November 29 & 30, 2024 at the Grande Prairie Forestry Office Warehouse
(10811 84th Ave, Grande Prairie, T8V 3J2).
This event is open to anyone interested in wildland firefighting. This fitness test is one of the first steps in the application process. Come prepared with athletic shoes and clothing. A physical activity readiness screening must be completed upon arrival. Must be accompanied by a guardian if under 18 years of age. If you'd like to sign up for a specific time, please call, otherwise feel free to drop in at any time during the event hours. 

 

firesmart community grant

Applications for the 2025 Wildfire Community Preparedness Day are now open. 

The Wildfire Community Preparedness Day encourages communities to host events and projects to raise awareness of wildfire risks and improve resilience. The event is developed by the National Fire Protection Association and takes place from May to October. 
Communities can apply for a $500 grant to help plan their FireSmart Preparedness Day event. The grant is offered in partnership with the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR), Co-operators, and provincial and territorial wildfire agencies. 

To apply for the grant, communities can:

  • Think about a project that will help their neighborhood become more FireSmart
  • Submit their application and project idea
  • Use the Prep Day Toolkit for ideas for community projects and events 

More information can be found here.  Applications close on January 31, 2025.

ChristmasTree_Permits_2022

TREE CUTTING PERMITS FOR PERSONAL USE

Personal Use Forest Products Permits (PUFPP) are for small-scale personal use only (no resale) for Christmas trees, firewood or transplants. These free permits are available online or in person at your nearest forestry office.

PUFPPs authorize Albertans to cut and removed timber from designated Crown land only. The area-specific PUFPP document must be with you at all times while cutting or transporting trees from Crown land. 

 

Kelly Burke | Wildfire Information Officer

(780) 832-7235