Last year was the busiest year yet for Cochrane Fire Services, as the department logged a six per cent increase over the previous year.
Over the course of the past 12 months, Cochrane’s firefighters received 810 calls for service, said emergency services chief Mac deBeaudrap. That’s 42 more than the 768 individual calls dispatched in 2012.
This rise in calls correlates to Cochrane’s growing population. The 2013 municipal census estimated the town’s population increased by 6.7 per cent since the last federal census.
“The increase in overall call volumes is keeping pace with the growth of the town,” said deBeaudrap. “Going forward, we expect calls to continue to reflect the needs of a growing community.”
Out of the 810 calls for service, deBeaudrap said the Top 3 types of calls dispatched were: medical co-response (311), motor vehicle collisions (113) and alarms without fires (137).
In addition, firefighters at Station 151 were dispatched to 56 fires and 20 water rescue calls. The calls for fire dropped from 2012’s 72, while the number of water rescues increased from 15.
June’s flood accounted for a climb in water rescues. Chief deBeaudrap said the five additional calls were dispatched from Bragg Creek on the same day during the heart of the flooding.
Cochrane Fire Services currently employs 18 full-time firefighters, along with 36 casual firefighters. While deBeaudrap said the service has no big undertakings in mind for 2014, it would continue with basic skill training throughout the year.
Redwood Meadows Emergency Services (RMES) ended 2013 with 414 calls for service, nearly on par with 2012’s volume of 418.
“This year’s numbers include 31 calls during the flooding in June,” said Rob Evans, RMES fire chief. “Our numbers would have been down significantly from 2012’s 418 total without (those calls).”
RMES anticipates receiving between 375-425 calls a year from now on, he added.
Out of the 414 calls, the service responded to 70 fires, 139 rescues, 156 medical co-response, 26 hazmat and 23 other. The volunteer service was kept busy with the Top 3 call types: motor vehicle collisions, traumatic injuries and automatic fire alarms.
As 2013 drew to a close, the Redwood Meadows department boasted a roster of 31 members, and recorded nearly 20,000 hours in responses, training and more, said Evans.
With flood mitigation a top priority for the townsite and neighbouring communities, Evans said there are no big RMES projects lined up for the next 12 months.
He added that RMES would continue to serve their community and the surrounding areas through the service’s strong relationship with Rocky View County, Tsuu T’ina Nation and the Kananaskis Improvement District.
