Emergency Services

A strong sense of safety and security make this an ideal place to live, the community is well prepared for any emergency. The Town has a strong contingent of RCMP officers who are valued members of the community. The Town and County of Barrhead are members of the 911 Emergency Services System. Fire protection and ambulance EMT services have dedicated personnel who can quickly respond to any call for help. The Town and County of Barrhead have a joint Emergency Response Centre located in the Industrial Park at 4635-61 Avenue.

Police Services

Barrhead and District is served by a detachment of 11 members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Additional police services are readily available from the neighboring communities of Morinville, Mayerthorpe and Westlock detachments. The officer in charge is Sgt. Bob Dodds. The Administration Office’s phone number is 780-674-4848.

Ambulance Services

Associated Ambulance and Services (Whitecourt) Ltd. provides ambulance coverage for the Town of Barrhead. Any questions or concerns regarding Ambulance invoices issued after March 31, 2012, can be directed to the new Ambulance provider, Administration Office of Associated Ambulance and Services (Whitecourt) Ltd. at 780-786-2223.

Invoices that have been issued for Ambulance Service to March 31, 2012, are to be paid at the Barrhead Town Office.

Barrhead & District Victim Services

This group addresses the needs and offers assistance to victims of crime or misfortune. For further information, please call Rene Hartel-Mohrmann at 780-674-4848.

Barrhead Fire Services - Est. 1940

Celebrating 70 Years of Services to the Community

Emergency Response Centre (ERC) Building

We have 1 Fire Chief, John Whittaker and 30 volunteer Fire Fighters. They operate out of the Emergency Response Centre. For general information the administration phone number is 780-674-2087 and for all emergencies call 911.

Our total service area is 956 square miles including the Town, County, hamlets, subdivision developments and recreational areas. Our fleet consists of 2 command vehicles, 3 pumpers, 1 aerial, 1 rescue, 1 supply tender, 1 rapid response, 1 tactical tender and 1 rescue command on order.

The Fire Authority provides many other services, including fire prevention/public education, loss prevention inspection, investigations and public relations to mention a few. We pride ourselves in providing the best possible service to the region and encourage everyone to practice fire prevention and safety at home, work and play.

Training
Our members meet weekly for local training. Our training nights are Tuesdays commencing at 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. We utilize N.F.P.A. fundamentals for fire fighting and skills for our base training content. We supplement this local training with client hosted certified training courses from fire etc. and other pertenant subject matter.

Volunteering
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Barrhead Fire Services and serving our community in this very challenging and rewarding endeavor, we encourage you to get involved. We have many oportunities that may be of interest to you, such as Fire and Rescue Responses, Public Education and Fire Prevention. Public relations support activities etc. Application forms are available at the Town Office, by contacting the Fire Chief or see below - "How To Apply". Minimum requirements for membership are 18 years of age, Class 5 Drivers License and it is desirable if you live and work in Barrhead.

Fire Fighter Recruitment Video

How To Apply
The Town of Barrhead's Fire Services Application is available for viewing and printing in an Adobe.PDF format Application for Membership Form. Please find the form download at the bottom of this page.

Annual Statistics

History
The Town of Barrhead's Fire Department was founded in 1940 by a group of residents identifying the need for an organized Fire Department. The fire fighting equipment in those days was not motorized but rather a fire pump pulled to the scene and operated by four people. In 1950 the Town purchased a new fire truck. To date, this truck has been kept mechanically operational for parades and special events. It is on display in our local museum for everyones viewing pleasure.

In the late 1970’s the fire hall went through renovations to accommodate the increased number and size of fire fighting equipment. In the late 1980’s the Fire Department identified the need to expand into rescue services for the residents of Barrhead and the many people using the surrounding highways. A complete set of basic hydraulic vehicle extrication tools was purchased with the monies raised through fundraisers. After purchasing these tools the members of the Department continued their fundraising efforts to add, improve and update rescue equipment. The Department now operates a fully stocked rescue vehicle and is able to assist the public in different areas of rescue, thanks to these fundraising efforts.

In the early 1990’s plans were set up to eventually build a new fire hall and locate it in the industrial park. As the Town Office relocated and the old office and fire hall were sold, the construction of this facility became a high priority. In 1997/1998 the Fire Department moved into the new Emergency Response Centre, which also houses Barrhead Ambulance Services. Adequate office space, meeting and training rooms, as well as two on-call quarters and kitchen facilities are present.

Amalgamation
In the summer of 2002, the Town and County Fire Departments amalgamated to create a regional fire service. A new logo was required to symbolize the identity of the Barrhead Fire Services. The crest shape and size remained the same as the former crest used by each department.

New Logo
The maltese cross was selected as the base for the new logo. The maltese cross is a traditional logo utilized by the Fire Service in North America. The color red was selected for the maltese cross as red is the historical color of the Fire Service and represents danger. In the centre of the maltese cross is a revised version of the Town and Counties official crest. Most notable is the removal of the crown above the shield and replaced with a maple leaf that represents our country of Canada. On the left side of the maltese cross is a symbol of a hydraulic spreader, representing extrication and rescue duties provided. On the right side is a ladder and pike pole representing tools utilized in fighting fires.

To summarize our new logo is to say it represents the history of the fire service, the pride we have in our Country, the communities we serve and the tools we use. May the members of Barrhead Fire Services wear this new logo/crest with pride in serving our communities.