Our Vision We will support a diverse, healthy, and safe place to operate; Maintain progressive trends in the volunteer service; Strive to be a regional leader in offensive suppression tactics, Medical first response, rescue and fire prevention.
Our Mission Our mission is to protect the life, property, and environment of the residents and visitors of Penhold through prevention, suppression, rescue and emergency medical service.
Our Values We are accountable, efficient, competent, and respectful to the public we serve. We promote honesty, integrity and transparency.
What We Do
We respond to all fire, rescue, and medical emergencies in Penhold. There are 35 highly dedicated and trained fire fighters.
Our core responsibilities include fires (structural, vehicle, grass etc.) rescues (vehicle accidents, ice/water, industrial/work place etc.) medical (trauma or sickness), fire prevention (business and home inspections on request), public education (school visits, special events, parades, fire hall tours etc.) fire code enforcement, hazardous material incidents, and natural disasters.
Even though we are volunteer, we are a full service fire rescue department.
In 2018 we responded to over 144 incidents.
Like all bedroom communities, our greatest need is for people who are available in the daytime from 6 am until 6 pm, as most of our people work outside of Town. We practice every Wednesday night from 7-9 pm.
Mutual Aid
Our department does not only protect the town, but we also work in conjunction with other departments in our vicinity, Penhold's agreement is with Red Deer County and Innisfail. A lot has changed since the early 1900’s when Fire Companies literally fought to see who was going to put out the fire. Now we all work together. That’s why you may see County trucks and firefighters in our town.
Recruitment
Volunteers are the lifeblood of our community.
About 80 percent of Alberta’s firefighters are members of volunteer departments, with only a few departments in the province composed of full-time staff - it pays to volunteer!
What's in it for you?
You can receive the full fire/rescue/medical training, make a huge difference in your community and may even get an honorarium for training and calls!
The Penhold Fire Department offers you the same training programs that full-time firefighters receive, but at a pace that meets your need. The courses are offered at no cost to you.
Most of your new skills will transfer to different departments if you move to a new community.
How to Apply
Complete the Penhold Fire Department Application Form and email to firedept@townofpenhold.ca
10 reasons not to join the fire department
1. YOU ENJOY SLEEPING
Sure, getting woken up in the middle of the night to run out the door and spend a few hours in 80 pounds of gear is, of course, the most fun thing in the entire world. But after doing a bit of research, it turns out that there is a strange, barely comprehensible subset of the population that actually enjoys having an undisturbed night’s rest in a comfortable bed. Little is known or understood about these strange people. If you encounter them in your community, try to give them pity. They cannot help their twisted abnormality.
2. YOU’VE COME TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S A MISTAKE TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE
While it remains indisputably true that other people exist mostly to be a hindrance to your day-to-day activities, many volunteer departments frown on including members who openly express a "your roaring attic fire is not my problem" attitude. People with that sort of mentality are much better suited to working at The Gap.
3. YOU PREFER TO SWEAT AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE
I know, it seems bizarre to say it out loud, but there are people out there who prefer to avoid losing three to four pints of water at a stretch from sweating. These stingy, water-hoarding folk are rarely a good fit for your local volunteer department.
4. BREAKING IN DOORS AND WINDOWS DOESN'T SOUND LIKE ANY FUN AT ALL
Seriously, after a long stressful week at the day job, there is absolutely nothing therapeutic about taking a Halligan to a plate glass window. No, sir. Nothing therapeutic at all ….
5. YOU’RE ACTIVELY AFRAID OF FIRE
True story – one of the many questions on the standard psych exam for new applicants is "True or False – I am afraid of fire." On one hand, I’d really like to believe that the inherent problem there would have occurred to you before you get to the psych test, but the realist in me has to accept that at some point, someone has gotten to that question and thought to themselves, "Oh … Wait … My crippling terror of fire is going to be a problem, isn’t it?"
6. YOU FIND THE THOUGHT SPEEDING TO BE DISTURBING
Particularly while laying on the sirens. Yes, that’s a nightmare. No fun at all.
7. BECAUSE ONLY LOSERS GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY
I mean, honestly. You see these people out there helping out with food drives or volunteering with youth organizations or whatnot. What’s up with them? Don’t they have cable?
8. YOU’RE TRYING TO AVOID HAVING ANY EXTRA RETIREMENT SAVINGS
I know I speak for the majority when I say that I am dedicated to spending my retirement years eating as much low-quality cat food in my street-corner cardboard box as possible. .
9. BEING PART OF A CLOSE-KNIT GROUP WHO TRUST ONE ANOTHER WITH THEIR LIVES IS PROBABLY OVERRATED
If I wanted to have people in my life that treated me like family, I would have stayed in touch with my family, thank you very much.
10. NAVY MAKES YOU LOOK FAT
Is it your fault that you’re a fall and not a winter? Of course not. That duty crew T-shirt is just a non-starter.
Fire Safety
Smoke Detector Maintenance
The best thing you can do is ensure you have adequate smoke detectors, and that they are maintained.
Most fire injuries and fatalities in Canada occur in residential homes (single family and multi-family), and most happen where there are no working smoke detectors. It is the law in Alberta to have a working smoke alarm in your home.
For more information or help contact us at firedept@townofpenhold.ca In the last few years we have helped many residents in Penhold install or replace their smoke alarms.
- Make sure you have one detector on each floor, and ideally one in each bedroom.
- Test each detector once a month. Push the test button to verify the power source and the alarm's ability to sound. Then test its ability to detect smoke by blowing out a candle, burning incense, or using smoke in a can.
- Clean each detector every six months. To clean a smoke detector, simply pop open the cover and vacuum the insides. The detector may go off during this time.
- Replace the battery at least once a year, but every 6 months is best. If you do it when the time changes it is easy to remember.
- If you can, hard wire them into the home electricity supply, with a back-up battery.
Refer to your owners manual for other suggestions. These steps are suggested as a minimum. Some people test them weekly or when they return from a trip. They can easily be maintained and may make all the difference for you and your family.
Emergency Fire Plan
Make sure you have outlined to everyone in the household what the emergency plan is. Discuss it, and practice it. Since 2009 we have talked to every school aged child in Penhold about fire safety and escape plans. If you would like more information contact us at firedept@townofpenhold.ca
- Draw a floor plan of your house.
- Mark two ways out of each room.
- Establish a meeting place outside the house.
- Be sure each family member has the plan and knows the escape route.
- Post your fire escape plan on the fridge or family bulletin board.
- Hold a fire drill for your family once or twice a year. Vary the drills, to practice escaping from different fire sources.
The Canada Safety Council has more information about home safety planning
Fire Extinguishers
Remember: Extinguishers should only be used by adults; for all adults, babysitters and children the priority is to get out of the house safely. Before using an extinguisher know how it operates, make sure you have an escape path, and have already called 911.
- Ensure each extinguisher is inspected monthly and serviced yearly.
- Have an extinguisher in the kitchen, and on each floor.
- The best all-around household extinguisher works on class ABC fires.
More information about fire extinguishers.
The best protection from fire and smoke is prevention. Keep your family safe through preparation and good planning, and make our job that much easier.
• The NFPA website is loaded with learning resources for fire prevention, from home escape planning to resources for children.
• The Canada Safety Council has a myriad of resources about fire prevention, and many other safety issues such as traffic safety and children.
ATCO Futures On Fire Program
In partnership with ATCO, we offer a Fire Cadet Program. Futures on Fire is a program for high school students who wish to gain work experience hours by learning how to be a firefighter. Many students will be able to complete professional qualifications in firefighting and once 18 years old will be able to apply for certifications.
Once a year, in May, we have a competition between all the ATCO Futures on Fire programs. Often cadets make the transition into paid or volunteer professional firefighters after graduation. A $1000 scholarship is rewarded to one cadet per year.