The Town of Stettler is transitioning to an independent fire service following the County of Stettler’s withdrawal from the regional agreement that has shaped local fire protection since 1981.
What began as an arrangement between the Town and County more than four decades ago grew into a regional network serving communities such as Botha, Gadsby, Big Valley, Donalda, White Sands & Rochon Sands.
In 2005, the two municipalities appointed a Regional Fire Chief, a role that increasingly took on more responsibilities at the rural fire stations.
By 2013, a new agreement reinforced regional cooperation, while maintaining municipal autonomy. However, rising workloads & limited staffing strained the system over time.
Call hours ballooned from 689 in 2013, to over 4,000 in 2021, handled by just two full-time staff rotating on 24/7 on-call duties.
In 2023, the municipalities attempted to modernize the fire structure, hiring a Regional Manager and creating separate fire chiefs for the Town and County.
A financial review at that time confirmed ownership of Station 1 in Stettler at 74 per cent for the Town and 26 per cent for the County, based on funding contributions of $1.77 million and $623,000.
Despite updates to the fire structure plan, unresolved issues persisted, including fair compensation for joint training, invoicing challenges, and disputes over donated assets.
The County’s Fire Chief position also remained vacant until July 2024, contributing to the eventual resignation of the Regional Manager in March 2025.
Following unsuccessful negotiations to revise the agreement, the County served notice of withdrawal in May and announced plans to form an independent fire commission.
County council has since directed administration to begin that transition, approving equipment purchases and a temporary fire hall location during their July 9 meeting.
Author: Landin Chambers
Landin Chambers is a news reporter for Hometown Media Stettler. He has a background in broadcast news, with previous roles in Prince George, Red Deer and Calgary. You may also see him as a cameraman for the Stettler Wildcats and Stettler Imperials. Have a story idea? Email: lchambers@htproductionsmedia.ca
