High Level fire chief receives award for new northern community crisis team

High Level’s fire chief accepted an award from the Alberta Emergency Management Agency (AMEA) for the creation of a new Regional Incident Management Team that will provide backup to isolated communities in northern Alberta when a crisis strikes.

“We’re used to being on our own in a major emergency and we understand what it’s like to be waiting a long time for help,” said Rodney Schmidt, fire chief and director of protective services for the town of High Level. “That’s kind of the premise of that agreement and this team, to be able to backstop each other in a time of need.”

The team will see 14 municipalities combine to support local crews during large-scale disasters.

Schmidt said the idea came after a 2011 wildfire devastated Slave Lake.

“It was a good 24 hours-plus to get all the resources there at that time. We took the lessons from that event and said, ‘How can we do this better?’” Schmidt said, before accepting the 2017 Alberta Emergency Management Achievement Award during the AMEA summit Tuesday in Edmonton.

Having surrounding municipalities already prepared to organize and provide operational support during a crisis can significantly reduce the time emergency crews wait for help, Schmidt said.

“The idea is our team is mobile within six hours.”

Schmidt said the team will be ready to respond at the start of Alberta’s wildfire season in 2018.

“Getting together on a better integrated plan is really good for the community and the people we serve,” said Municipal Affairs Minister Shaye Anderson, adding, “Chief Schmidt and their team have been incredible in what they’ve done.”