The Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority (BRFA) has proven time and time again, they are a force to be reckoned with.
But, there was a time when the authority didn't exist. The eight fire departments, dozens of fire trucks, and over one hundred firefighters were on their own.
It wasn't until July 1996 that fire departments throughout the MD of Bonnyville band together to create the BRFA. This move would improve communication, services, and training for fire stations across the region.
“The concept was developed in about 1994/95, and it took the better part of two-years of work to get it to 1996, where it was formalized,” explained BRFA chief Brian McEvoy. “Regionalizing the fire service has provided the residents of the region with a fire service level that is beyond compare to other municipalities.”
It was because of the scope of operations the BRFA was formed. With 13 fire stations in the region, communication was sometimes difficult.
This was one of the many reasons why the MD of Bonnyville and the town worked together to blend their departments and operate under one roof.
“There were a number of reasons for it. One was the scale of the economy, the other was standardization of service delivery,” McEvoy said. “It was more economical to run one service and one administration than to run two separate ones.”
Both municipalities brought fire chiefs from their departments on board to create the administration necessary for the job. From the town they selected the man who would act as fire chief for the BRFA, from the MD they chose a deputy fire chief.
From 1996 to 1999, they worked on blending the two systems. In 1998 the MD of Bonnyville and all of the communities within it, including Métis and First Nations, were integrated into the 911 systems.
This was, what McEvoy described as, a major game changer for the region.
“That was a great step forward for all of the communities,” he said.
From 1998 to 2005 the BRFA used a contracted service provider for their 911 services. It wasn't until March 1, 2005 that they took over the operation of the 911 systems.
“We started to deliver the services for 911 right out of the fire hall. At that time, we answered all of the calls for the MD, and all municipalities in the MD, except for the City of Cold Lake,” McEvoy explained. “We also dispatched all of the fire service, both Bonnyville and Cold Lake ambulance services. We were also the dispatchers for, at that time, the region's constable service.”
Over the next 10-years the BRFA continued to operate the 911 service, adding communities such as the County of Smokey Lake and St. Paul County to their list.
In 2007, they moved into a “purpose-built communications centre for the delivery of the 911 service.”
Another big impact of the BRFA was the renegotiation of a contract with the City of Cold Lake for the provision of fire services in the eastern district of the MD.
“That was a long drawn-out process, but we were able to come to terms so we are paying a fair amount for service,” McEvoy said.
The agreement between the city and BRFA has the Cold Lake Fire-Rescue team service the eastern portion of the MD, an area outside of the city's borders.
Other negotiations, such as an agreement with Imperial Oil and CNRL are also a feather in the BRFA's cap.
The 15-year contract means the BRFA provides industrial fire protection services to the two oil companies, which required specialty training and equipment.
“The contract has provided the funding that we need to train and equip firefighters to do industrial firefighting, including the purchase of a $1-million industrial foam ladder truck,” McEvoy emphasized.
Over the last 15-years the BRFA has upgraded the fleet of fire trucks and response equipment for all eight stations.
They have also managed to double their vehicle rescue equipment over the years, meaning they can provide emergency vehicle extraction that much quicker.
“There are four stations that are fully equipped and trained to provide vehicle rescue, which overall reduces significantly the time it takes for us to get a rescue station out,” McEvoy said. “It's not only important for the community and the people that live here, but also the people that work here or are just travelling through.”
The BRFA has continued to work on public education, issue permits and other soft services all under one roof, as well as provides training for hazardous materials and dangerous goods.
In 2013, the BRFA inherited the local ambulance services.
“Through that, we were able to renegotiate their contract with Alberta Health Services to get the ambulance services properly funded so we can keep them viable and operating locally,” McEvoy said.
They have also developed a regional fire training centre. It has been certified by the Alberta government to deliver National Fire Protection Association training, and has been a huge benefit to fire departments across northeastern Alberta.
The training centre has allowed for local fire departments to work together, meeting their fellow fire fighters and getting a better understanding of how each department works.
This, McEvoy said, is important for when emergency situations do occur.
“It's a lot nicer to meet someone in fire training for the first time than when you have a Fort McMurray situation,” he explained. “It has developed and built those relationships so these people all know each other and how they work.”
Most recently, the BRFA updated their radio frequency system. The fire authority can now communicate with local RCMP and peace officers directly, which has been a huge step forward for local emergency services.
In many cases, the formation of the BRFA has been used as a model example for other departments, with their relationship not only with local municipalities, but also Alberta Forestry and the provincial government put into the spotlight.
Regardless of their ability to cooperate with local dignitaries, McEvoy said there is one group of people the BRFA couldn't do without.
“The foundation of this authority are the men and women who are willing to get up at 2 a.m. to help people they don't know, that's what keeps the organization so strong.”
