Wheatland County firefighters were successful in their application for a training grant from the Alberta government.
Last week, Municipal Affairs announced grants totaling $650,000 to 50 municipalities to support firefighter training.
“Local firefighters and emergency responders provide an invaluable service to their communities. These men and women, many of whom are volunteers, brave dangerous situations in order to protect the public. Our government is proud to invest in emergency preparedness training as just one of the ways we will continue to help these individuals who help others,” said Danielle Larivee, Minister of Municipal Affairs.
Among the recipients was Wheatland County.
“We are very honoured to receive $20,500 to carry out training for our Fire Services and Emergency preparedness,” said Judy Unsworth, Wheatland County Fire and Emergency management coordinator.
She explains it is an annual granting program they have to apply for.
“It will go towards fire training with all nine departments we work with,” she said. “Our training committee meets and makes decisions annually on the training,”
This varies year to year.
“Some years we have a lot of new firefighters and we need a lot of beginner firefighter training. Some years we can do things more advanced,” she said.
Last year they worked on beginner courses as well as pump courses. With the Trans Canada Highway running through the county, motor vehicle rescue and extrication is an important aspect.
“Every year it will depend on what the needs of the group are, and we try to make the decision based on the good of the whole,” said Unsworth.