Redwood Meadows Emergency Services (RMES) had a record-setting year in 2012, responding to 418 calls, up seven per cent from the previous year and 60 per cent since 2007.
“Our volunteers continue to amaze me with their commitment to the community,” RMES fire chief Rob Evans said in a press release.
“The time our firefighters put into the department with training, responses, community events and more equaled more than 19,000 hours.”
Redwood Meadows Emergency Services currently boasts 36 volunteer, part-time members, an equivalent of nine full-time firefighters. They respond to a variety of incidents, including medical calls to major fires, such as the Bragg Creek Husky gas station fire that occurred in January 2012.
Evans said that with what has been ongoing support from Redwood Meadows council, the department has been able to provide their volunteers with the best possible equipment, everything from boots to engines, including a new rescue truck they brought into service in November 2012, which has already been used a number of times and was amazingly the busiest truck in the fleet last year, responding to nearly 66 per cent of calls.
Evans cautiously hopes for less action in the coming 12 months.
“RMES looks forward to a quiet year in 2013,” he said, “but realistically is ready for another busy year.”
Evans is confident that RMES will continue to serve their community and neighbours through strong partnerships with Rocky View County, Tsuu T’ina Nation and Kananaskis Improvement District.
