Regional Fire Services

Ponoka County Regional Fire Services oversees the operation of 2 Fire Departments.

If you have any questions regarding the fire departments please contact
Donna Noble, Protective Services Coordinator by email [email protected] or by phone at 403-783-3333, or
Peter Hall, CAO by email [email protected] or by phone at 403-783-3333.    

If your call is an emergency please call 9-1-1

East District Fire Department (6705 46 Avenue, Ponoka)
Boundaries:
Everything East of the Fifth Meridian Road (Rge Rd 10) including the Town of Ponoka

 
West District Fire Department (5030 49 Avenue, Rimbey)
Boundaries :
Everything West of the Fifth Meridian Road (Rge Rd 10) including the Town of Rimbey, Summer Village of Parkland Beach  and the Hamlet of Bluffton.

Ponoka County Fire Protection Bylaw 3-22-FP
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For all other contact information please visit our contact page.

FireSmart Canada is living with and managing for wildfire.  Preparing for the threat of wildfire is a shared responsibility. Protecting your home from wildfire starts with simple actions. Whether you are doing regular yard maintenance or making large scale changes during renovations or landscaping, you can make choices that will help protect your home from wildfire.  Some of the measures cost very little and can help reduce the vulnerability of your home to wildfire; others require planning and long-term commitment.   Check out the FireSmart Begins at Home App.

• Home Construction – Use fire resistant building materials such as stucco, fire resistant shingles and double or triple pane windows can reduce the risk of fire sparks and embers igniting your home.  FireSmart Home Development Guide
• Determine your risk by completing a FireSmart home assessment. 
• Yard and Landscaping – You may already be taking actions that help to reduce your risk to wildfire; mowing and watering your lawn, planting fire resistant plants in your garden and using rock mulch instead of wood mulch can reduce your risk of wildfire.           FireSmart Homeowner’s Manual 
• Vegetation and Fuels - Preparing your property does not mean removing all the trees and shrubs. There are a few key things you can do to protect your home from wildfire:
  • Prune tree branches to a minimum height of 2 metres
  • Remove all combustible trees, long grass, shrubs, logs, branches, twigs and needles and grass mowed and watered within 10 metres of structures/buildings
  • Thin trees (with 3-6 metres between crowns) for at least 30 metres from any structure
  • Store firewood a minimum of 10 metres away from any structures (avoid down slope location)
  • Contact your utility company if trees or branches are not clear of power lines
  • FireSmart your fire pit or burning barrel
  • Clear your driveway of trees to a distance of at least 3 metres on either side
• Farm and acreage – Each property is unique but a range of actions can help you to reduce your risk of wildfire. Focus on the following areas:
  • Fences and ditch lines managed for dry grasses, weeds and brush
  • Store bales, feed and firewood well away from any structures
  • Consider vegetation management for outbuildings, barns and unused land
• Last Minute Wildfire Checklist​

​Fire Permits Not Required November 1 to February 28

From November 1st to February 28th fire permits are not officially required for burning in Ponoka County. Although a permit is not required you are still responsible for any fires you ignite. Please exercise safe burning practice.   Please be aware of the conditions surrounding your burn areas - it may be better to wait for more snow cover before lighting.  This is especially true in low lying areas.

Here are some tips:
-     have someone on site monitoring the burn the entire time;
-     have adequate tools, water and equipment on site when burning;
-     monitor the weather and wind conditions at all times (wind speeds less than 15 km/hr are encouraged);
-   monitor the smoke conditions - a temperature inversion can trap smoke at ground level impacting driving conditions. If smoke becomes an issue for neighbours or traffic, the fire may require immediate extinguishment;
-   when burn is done spread out the remaining material and, if possible, soak the area to ensure both heat and smoke are no longer present;​
-     check the burn site multiple times in the following weeks to ensure it has not reignited. 

​While burning may be the simplest way to clean up a site, you may be breaking the law.  Keep in mind under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act, burning certain materials is illegal.  Burnable debris includes: brush/fallen trees, straw, stubble, grass, weeds, leaves, tree prunings and wood/wood products NOT containing preservatives.  Prohibited debris include:  animal manure, plastic (including baler twine), rubber (including tires), containers that held pesticides/chemicals, and wood/wood products containing wood preservatives.  For more information check out Prohibited Debris: Before You Burn . . . Learn!!

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Fire permit conditions:  (these conditions are on the back of each fire permit issued)

Conditions