The City and County of Grande Prairie’s new fire mutual aid agreement is now in effect. It formalizes allowing each municipality to ask for resources from the other agency to help with emergencies when needed.
“This collaborative relationship to improve emergency response along our shared boundaries is one of the many ways the County and City are working together to enhance our service delivery,” says County of Grande Prairie Deputy Reeve Peter Harris.
“Ensuring the safety of the public is always of the utmost importance to myself and our community,” adds City of Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton. “This collaboration will aid both the City and County by providing more efficient services in emergency situations.”
The agreement also includes an auto-aid feature that means the closest station will respond to a call no matter where the call is within in two select areas. That applies to the Westgate fire station in Grande Prairie responding to emergencies involving a greater risk to human life and public safety in the Silver Pointe Village. The same goes for the Clairmont Station 14 in the County for high-risk calls to rural roads and Happy Trails Campground & Cabins.
The Fire Mutual Aid Agreement was signed as part of the City and County’s Intermunicipal Collaboration Agreement negotiations earlier this year. It is something that had been discussed for several years prior.