In southern Alberta, Canada, four community fire departments joined forces beginning in January of 2013 to create a partnership to maximize resources to develop, deliver and evaluate relevant fire and injury prevention education programs. The coalition is working collaboratively with a committed corporate partner whose generous support sustains these programs in each of the communities.

The Regional Fire Safety Education Coalition is comprised of the Airdrie Fire Department, Chestermere Fire Services, Cochrane Fire Services, Rocky View County Fire Services and Corporate Partner ConocoPhillips Canada.

In the spring of 2013, each council in the proposed partnership communities was presented with information and each council overwhelmingly accepted their fire department’s recommendation to join the coalition. The new group will allow departments and individuals with diverse backgrounds to address the fire safety concerns of the entire region in a proactive manner.

Historically, fire departments focused much of their efforts on preparing and responding to emergencies. Over time, the fire service has come to understand the importance of committing effort toward delivering meaningful awareness, education and prevention programs. Today, fire education and injury prevention programs are part of the regular responsibilities of local fire departments. Coalitions such as this are the next step in creating multifaceted programs that draw from the strengths of each independent department to serve the community at large.

While these programs may be delivered in varying ways by each department, the program framework and key messaging remains consistent in all communities. Certain elements of these programs have previously been delivered by the fire service, but the concept of the coalition approach maximizes resources to enhance sustainable programs.

The Regional Fire Safety Education Coalition has committed to three initial programs:

Home Safety Program

This program has firefighters provide door-to-door visits with residents in a chosen area. With participation by the homeowner and family, crew members complete a home safety checklist, addressing potential fire and safety issues throughout the home. Crews will check and install smoke alarms and batteries as required.

If the homeowner chooses not to participate in the home safety check, crews will still provide them with valuable safety information. This program will initially focus on areas considered to be of higher risk. These areas may have older homes or residents who may be vulnerable such as seniors or people with disabilities.

After the Emergency Program

This program strives to have fire fighters return to the community within 72 hours of a significant emergency event. This could be events such as fire, flood or emergency evacuation. Fire crews visit residents in the affected area, answering questions, addressing concerns and providing support services to assist residents in returning their lives to a sense of normalcy.

Community Care Packs

The packs are a resource for frontline crews that support existing community programs. They contain a variety of fire education and safety information, smoke alarms, batteries, home checklists, other community service information. They also contain huggable trauma pets which are provided to children who can be dramatically impacted during an incident. These packs provide crews with readily accessible resources to assist the public when they are out in the community.

ConocoPhillips, one of the country’s largest oil and natural gas production and exploration companies, is a critical partner in the success of this coalition. They generously provide the funding which allows these meaningful programs to be delivered within all the coalition communities.

As invested partners the coalition joined together to learn and support each other in order to serve their communities in a meaningful way.

Into the future the coalition is committed to further development of comprehensive safety programing. Coalition departments will work in collaboration with ConocoPhillips to bring this partnership opportunity to other communities in the area and throughout the province of Alberta.